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Dartos Muscle Interposition Flap for the Treatment of Rectourethral Fistulas

  • Original Contributions
  • Published:
Diseases of the Colon & Rectum

Abstract

Purpose

Rectourethral fistula is a rare complication of pelvic surgery, trauma, or inflammation. The many techniques for repairing these fistulas vary in their success rates. Our goal was to describe the use of a dartos muscle interposition flap for repair of these fistulas.

Methods

We performed a retrospective review of eight patients who underwent repair of a rectourethral fistula with a dartos muscle interposition flap. We describe the success rate and patient-related factors that may have affected success. The technique of dartos muscle interposition is described and compared with other previously described techniques.

Results

Six of eight patients had healing of their fistulas documented by follow-up cystogram.

Conclusions

Dartos muscle interposition is a straightforward technique that can result in successful fistula repair but should not be used in patients with risk factors for poor wound healing, such as an immunocompromised state or previous radiation therapy.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, Section of Colon and Rectal Surgery, University of California San Francisco, 2330 Post Street, Suite 260, Box 0144, San Francisco, California, 94143-0144, USA

    Madhulika G. Varma M.D., Jennifer Y. Wang M.D. & Julio Garcia-Aguilar M.D., Ph.D.

  2. Department of Surgery, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA

    Andrew A. Shelton M.D.

  3. Department of Urology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA

    Jack W. McAninch M.D.

  4. Department of Surgery, Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

    Stanley M. Goldberg M.D.

Authors
  1. Madhulika G. Varma M.D.
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  2. Jennifer Y. Wang M.D.
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  3. Julio Garcia-Aguilar M.D., Ph.D.
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  4. Andrew A. Shelton M.D.
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  5. Jack W. McAninch M.D.
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  6. Stanley M. Goldberg M.D.
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Madhulika G. Varma M.D..

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Cite this article

Varma, M.G., Wang, J.Y., Garcia-Aguilar, J. et al. Dartos Muscle Interposition Flap for the Treatment of Rectourethral Fistulas. Dis Colon Rectum 50, 1849–1855 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10350-007-9032-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10350-007-9032-3

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