Minimally invasive endoscopic repair of rectovaginal fistula.

Background: Surgical techniques for repair of rectovaginal fistula (RVF) have been continually developed, but the ideal procedure remains unclear. Endoscopic repair is a novel and minimally invasive technique for RVF repair with increasing reporting.

Aim: To review the current applications and preliminary outcomes of this technique for RVF repair, aiming to give surgeons an alternative in clinical practice.

Methods: Available articles were searched according to the search strategy. And the sample size, fistula etiology, fistula type, endoscopic repair approaches, operative time and hospital stay, follow-up period, complication and life quality assessment were selected for recording and further analysis.

Results: A total of 11 articles were eventually identified, involving 71 patients with RVFs who had undergone endoscopic repair. The principal causes of RVFs were surgery ( = 51, 71.8%), followed by obstetrics ( = 7, 9.8%), inflammatory bowel disease ( = 5, 7.0%), congenital ( = 3, 4.2%), trauma ( = 2, 2.8%), radiation ( = 1, 1.4%), and in two patients, the cause was unclear. Most fistulas were in a mid or low position. Several endoscopic repair methods were included, namely transanal endoscopic microsurgery, endoscopic clipping, and endoscopic stenting. Most patients underwent > 1-year follow-up, and the success rate was 40%-93%, and all cases reported successful closure. Few complications were mentioned, while postoperative quality of life assessment was only mentioned in one study.

Conclusion: In conclusion, endoscopic repair of RVF is novel, minimally invasive and promising with acceptable preliminary effectiveness. Given its unique advantages, endoscopic repair can be an alternative technique for surgeons.