title: Rectovaginal Fistula after Low Anterior Resection for Rectal Cancer Using a Double Stapling Technique.
abstract: A 55-year-old female underwent low anterior resection for rectal cancer using a double stapling technique. She developed a rectovaginal fistula on the 9th postoperative day. She was discharged from hospital after undergoing transverse colostomy, and 5 months later she underwent transvaginal repair of the rectovaginal fistula. She subsequently had an uneventful recovery. The leading cause of this complication is involvement of the posterior wall of the vagina in the staple line when firing the circular stapler. Transvaginal repair with a diverting stoma for rectovaginal fistula is a safe, minimally invasive and effective method.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Ibaraki Seinan Medical Center Hospital, Ibaraki, Japan.
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yodonawa
authors.forename: Isao
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ogawa
authors.forename: Susumu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.forename: Hiromichi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.forename: Keisuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: Ryoko
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kubokawa
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