Management of Malignant Vaginal Fistulas: Suggestion of a Novel Technique.

Objective: This study was performed with the aim to evaluate the results of the treatment of vaginal fistulas caused by pelvic malignancy and to present a new surgical technique. In this retrospective study, patients with vaginal fistula who have been treated in Ghaem and Omid Hospitals of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences from 2004 to 2020 were studied. The inclusion criteria were the patients whose fistulas were caused by malignant neoplasia with pelvic organ origin. The patients with fistulas caused by other causes were excluded from the study. Patients' information was collected from the electronic records and the hospital archives and also the information recorded by the surgeon. Results: Out of 26 patients with vaginal fistula caused by pelvic malignancies, 18 cases had enterovaginal fistula. Cancer of cervix (11 cases) was the most prevalent cancer. Time interval between the incidence of fistula and the onset of the disease was 43.5 months. About 16 patients had a history of radiotherapy before the onset of the fistula, and 23 cases had undergone surgery before the onset of fistula. About 11 patients were treated with resection, 8 patients with ostomy, and 5 with fistulized loop bypass. Discussion and conclusion: In cases of extensive pelvic involvement with a tumor, it is recommended to use intestinal bypass in fistula site with the technique provided in this article, since it controls the symptoms of the patient and has limited complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]