title: Outcomes after repair of rectovaginal fistulas using bioprosthetics.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to report the outcomes with the use of advancement flaps and bioprosthetic grafts for the management of rectovaginal fistulas.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data was performed for all patients treated with a rectovaginal fistula.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 44 patients in the advancement flap group. A mucosal flap repair was performed for 29 patients, and 15 patients had an anodermal flap repair. The mean follow-up was 10 (range, 6-22) months. There were 34 patients in the bioprosthetic repair group. A bioprosthetic interposition graft was used to repair the fistula in 27 patients with a mean follow-up of 12 (range, 6-22) months, and 7 patients had a bioprosthetic plug repair of their fistula with a mean follow-up of 6 (range, 3-12) months. The fistula recurred in 15 patients (34 percent) who were managed by a flap repair, 5 patients (19 percent) who were managed by a bioprosthetic sheet, and 1 patient (14 percent) who was treated with a bioprosthetic plug.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Use of bioprosthetics for the management of rectovaginal fistulas is a new technique, which, based on early experience, seems to yield results equal to advancement flap repair.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama, USA. nellis@usouthal.edu
authors.forename: C Neal
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Ellis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001705:Bioprosthesis; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D012006:Rectovaginal Fistula / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D013536:Suture Techniques; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome