Stapled transperineal repair for low- and mid-level rectovaginal fistulas: A 5-year experience and comparison with sutured repair

Table 1 Clinical characteristics of the patient groups

Variable	Group 1	Group 2	Test value	P value
	n = 37	n = 45
Age1, yr, n (%)			χ² = 2.139	0.235
< 60	32 (86.49)	43 (95.56)
≥ 60	5 (13.51)	2 (4.44)
Aetiology1, n (%)			χ² = 8.601	0.025
Congenital	5 (13.51)	13 (28.89)
Obstetrical	15 (40.54)	24 (53.33)
Secondary to surgery	16 (43.24)	8 (17.78)
Other (traumatic aetiology)	1 (2.7)	0 (0)
Fistula duration time2, mo	91.1 ± 128.38	126.24 ± 150.85	U = 695	0.199
Previous repair history1, n (%)			χ² = 1.311	0.515
0	26 (70.27)	31 (68.89)
1	8 (21.62)	7 (15.56)
≥ 2	3 (8.11)	7 (15.56)
Fistula location1, n (%)			χ² = 1.072	0.351
Low-level	27 (72.97)	28 (62.22)
Mid-level	10 (27.03)	17 (37.78)
Distance from anal margin2, cm	2.16 ± 1.53	2.34 ± 1.16	U = 750.5	0.443
Distance from vaginal introitus2, cm	1.65 ± 1.32	1.84 ± 1.13	U = 692.5	0.188
Diameter of fistula2, cm	0.78 ± 0.47	0.62 ± 0.43	U = 639.5	0.069
Stoma1, n (%)	5 (13.51)	7 (15.56)	χ² = 0.068	1
Preoperative Wexner score2	7.03 ± 3.45	6.69 ± 3.48	t = 0.614	0.541

¹Categorical data presented as number and percentage of patients in each group.

²Measurement data presented as mean ± SD. Group 1: Direct sutured rectovaginal fistula patients; Group 2: Stapled rectovaginal fistula patients. χ²: Chi-squared testing; U: Mann-Whitney U testing.