Enterovaginal Fistula in Crohn’s Disease

Abstract

Eighteen patients suffering from Crohn’s disease complicated by enterovaginal fistula are presented. In 3 patients the fistula originated in the ileum. These patients were cured by segmental resection and anastomosis. In 15 patients the fistula originated in the rectum. Two patients were not treated surgically. In 2 patients local repair was successful. Four patients underwent a primary proctectomy and 4 patients had a proctectomy later on in the course of the disease. Three patients with a healed fistula have diverting enterostomy. On the basis of this series and cases collected from the literature, a plea is made to extend the use of local repair in patients with this complication of Crohn’s disease.