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Evaluation and Management of Rectourethral Fistulas After Prostate Cancer Treatment

  • Voiding Dysfunction Evaluation (C Gomez, Section Editor)
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Abstract

Most men newly diagnosed with prostate cancer will undergo local treatment with prostatectomy, radiation, or tissue ablation. A small percentage of these men will develop a rectourethral fistula, a complicated disease that requires a multidisciplinary approach to management. Diagnosis is typically made with a careful history and physical exam with endoscopy and select imaging recommended in all patients. Fistulas resulting from prostatectomy, radiation, or tissue ablative technology are approached differently due to local tissue changes following therapy. Post-radiation and thermal ablation fistulas have a lower fistula closure rate due to the deleterious effect of the primary treatment on local tissue. It is imperative that the patient understands the complexity of treatment and sets reasonable goals for treatment.

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Conflict of Interest

Kirk M. Anderson, Maxx Gallegos, Ty T. Higuchi, and Brian J. Flynn declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Urology, University of Colorado Denver, Academic Office One Bldg, 12631 East 17th Ave., Box C319, room L15-5602, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA

    Kirk M. Anderson, Ty T. Higuchi & Brian J. Flynn

  2. Division of Urology, UNM School of Medicine, MSC 10 5610, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA

    Maxx Gallegos

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  1. Kirk M. Anderson
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  2. Maxx Gallegos
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  3. Ty T. Higuchi
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  4. Brian J. Flynn
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Correspondence to Brian J. Flynn.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Voiding Dysfunction Evaluation

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Anderson, K.M., Gallegos, M., Higuchi, T.T. et al. Evaluation and Management of Rectourethral Fistulas After Prostate Cancer Treatment. Curr Bladder Dysfunct Rep 10, 132–137 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11884-015-0297-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11884-015-0297-4

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