OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the long-term results of surgical correction of H-type fistula in girls with a normal anus.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

There were 7 patients with rectovestibular fistula and 3 patients with rectovaginal fistula with a normal anus were observed from 2014 to 2019 in the Surgical Department No. 1 of the Russian Children’s Clinical Hospital. Upon admission, all patients underwent genital examination, vaginoscopy, rectal examination and probing the fistulous canal, irrigography, abdominal and retroperitoneal ultrasound. They were also examined by a gynecologist and genital smears were obtained. Surgical treatment was determined depending on the height and diameter of the fistula for each child. One patient underwent perineal fistulectomy, three patients — anterior anorectoplasty. Invaginated fistula extirpation, abdominoperineal proctoplasty and perineal fistulectomy using a pad flap between the defects were used in two cases, respectively. Patients were followed-up for the period from 6 months to 1 year after the last recurrence. Follow-up examination, irrigography and functional examination of sphincter were performed.

RESULTS

Two (20%) patients did not require redo surgery. In 6 (60%) cases, recurrences didn’t occur within a year after the second surgery, in 2 (20%) cases — after 3 operations. Recurrent H-type fistula appeared after 3 of 4 perineal fistulectomy procedures, 3 of 9 anterior anorectoplasty, 2 of 2 abdominoperineal proctoplasty and 2 of 3 invaginated fistula extirpation. Hypotension of internal anal sphincter and neo-rectal ampulla, recurrent vulvovaginitis were diagnosed in 2 patients in 6 months after anterior anorectoplasty.

CONCLUSION

We recommend anterior anorectoplasty and perineal fistulectomy using a pad flap between the defects for the treatment of H-type fistula to minimize the risk of recurrence.