Recto-vaginal fistulae (RVF) are complex fistulae particularly difficult to treat. Their frequency is relatively low, representing less then 5% of anorectal fistulae.1 Obstetric injury is by far the most frequently reported cause of low recto-vaginal fistulae.2-5 The outcome after surgery for RVF has been correlated with aetiology, complexity of disease, sphincter function and prior attempts to...

While adenocarcinomas have occasionally been reported in perianal fistulae, malignant changes occurring in rectovaginal fistulae are rare, with only a handful of reported cases. We report a 73-year-old woman with Crohn's disease who was diagnosed at an early stage with adenocarcinoma in a rectovaginal fistula. This rare disease poses many diagnostic challenges.

Cervical vertebral AV fistulae are uncommon vascular lesions involving abnormal communication between the extradural vertebral artery and surrounding venous structures. We examine the case of a female evaluated in the emergency department with a vertebral AV fistula presenting classically as pulsatile tinnitus and later successfully treated with standard endovascular techniques. A discussion on...

Two patients with renal arteriovenous fistulae are described, who presented in high output failure. Murmurs were detected in these patients on routine physical examination years before, and when cardiac failure ensued they were assumed to have decompensated valvar heart disease. Full investigation revealed the arteriovenous fistulae and both patients made a good recovery after surgical ligation.

BACKGROUND Obstetric fistula although virtually eliminated in high income countries, still remains a prevalent and debilitating condition in many parts of the developing world. It occurs in areas where access to care at childbirth is limited, or of poor quality and where few hospitals offer the necessary corrective surgery. METHODS This was a prospective observational study where all women wh...

OBJECTIVES The "closed" in situ bypass results in a reduction of wound complications compared to the "open" technique. This advantage is partly diminished by extra costs for the "closed" procedure and a larger percentage of residual arteriovenous (AV)-fistulae. This aim of this study was to analyse costs related to "closed" and "open" procedures. METHODS The cost affecting parameters: (1) dur...

OBJECTIVE To quantify the oral cutaneous fistulae after surgery and to identify possible risk factors. METHODS A retrospective study, interesting patients that were submitted to surgery, with a two years minimum post-operative follow up. The considered variables were: sex, concomitant diseases, tabacco and alcohol use, the anesthesic and pulmonary risks, clinical stage, cervical linphadenecto...