Perioperative adverse events in women undergoing rectovaginal fistula repair in the United States

A rectovaginal fistula (RVF) is an abnormal formation of an epithelialized tract between the rectum and vagina (1,2). In the United States, between 1979 and 2006, a total of 81,735 women underwent surgical repair of a RVF (3). There are different approaches to the repair of the RVF. In patients who develop a fistula as a result of an obstetric complication, conservative management with regular sitz baths for 3–6 months, along with stool bulking and perineal care may be sufficient (4). In patients who require further intervention, a local approach may be taken with the use of Original Article