Introduction: According to literature, colonic resection with a primary anastomosis and no defunctioning ileostomy is a safe treatment for colovesical or colovaginal fistula of diverticular origin. This study investigates the outcome of surgery for this patient group in a regional hospital.
Methods: Patients were obtained from a prospective database in the period 2004-2011. Several variables were investigated for their relation with surgical outcome.
Results: A colovesical (n = 35) or colovaginal (n = 5) fistula was diagnosed in 18 men and 22 women. The mean age was 69 years (range, 45-90). A rectosigmoid resection with primary anastomosis was performed in 32 patients. Fourteen patients received a defunctioning ileostomy. Eight patients were treated with a Hartmann procedure. Overall 30-day treatment-related morbidity and mortality was 48 and 8 %, respectively. Major morbidity, because of anastomotic leakage, was mainly observed in the primary anastomosis group without a defunctioning ileostomy. Morbidity and mortality were associated with high body mass index, diabetes, use of corticosteroids, and American Society of Anesthesiologists classification, though not significantly.
Conclusions: One should be liberal in the use of a defunctioning ileostomy in case of a primary anastomosis after colonic resection for a diverticular fistula, in order to prevent high morbidity rates due to anastomotic leakage.