Zeng YX, He YH, Jiang Y, Jia F, Zhao ZT, Wang XF. Minimally invasive endoscopic repair of rectovaginal fistula. World J Gastrointest Surg 2022; 14(9): 1049-1059 [PMID: 36185557 DOI: 10.4240/wjgs.v14.i9.1049]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Xiao-Feng Wang, MD, Doctor, Surgeon, Department of Proctology, Guang’anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, No. 5 North Line Pavilion, Xicheng District, Beijing 100053, China. wangxiaofeng74@hotmail.com
Research Domain of This Article
Surgery
Article-Type of This Article
Systematic Reviews
Open-Access Policy of This Article
This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Yi-Xian Zeng, Ying-Hua He, Yun Jiang, Fei Jia, Zi-Ting Zhao, Xiao-Feng Wang, Department of Proctology, Guang’anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100053, China
Author contributions: All authors contributed to this manuscript; Zeng YX, Wang XF and He YH designed the outline of this review; Zeng YX performed most of the writing, and prepared the figures and tables; Wang XF and He YH made critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content; Jiang Y, Jia F and Zhao ZT performed data acquisition, and writing; All authors read and approved the final version.
Conflict-of-interest statement: No benefits in any form have been received or will be received from a commercial party related directly or indirectly to the subject of this article.
PRISMA 2009 Checklist statement: The authors have read the PRISMA 2009 Checklist, and the manuscript was prepared and revised according to the PRISMA 2009 Checklist.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Xiao-Feng Wang, MD, Doctor, Surgeon, Department of Proctology, Guang’anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, No. 5 North Line Pavilion, Xicheng District, Beijing 100053, China. wangxiaofeng74@hotmail.com
Received: May 28, 2022 Peer-review started: May 28, 2022 First decision: June 19, 2022 Revised: June 30, 2022 Accepted: September 2, 2022 Article in press: September 2, 2022 Published online: September 27, 2022
ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS
Research background
Rectovaginal fistula (RVF) is abnormal connection between the rectum and vagina. Surgical repair is essential, once it occurs and persists. Surgical techniques for repair of rectovaginal fistula 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.
Research motivation
To review the current literature of endoscopic repair of RVF and highlight the novel and minimally invasive technique for RVF repair to surgeons.
Research objectives
To evaluate the preliminary outcomes of this technique for RVF repair and analyze the indication and technical superiority.
Research methods
We searched PubMed and EMBASE databases for available studies. Data were extracted and qualitative assessment was conducted.
Research results
The endoscopic repair of RVF is in constant development, including several available approaches. The preliminary effectiveness of endoscopic technique for RVF repair is acceptable.
Research conclusions
Endoscopic repair for RVF is novel, effective and promising with acceptable preliminary effectiveness. In this manuscript, we have provided a detailed review of literatures, summarized its indications and unique technical advantages and made suggestions for its application and future development.
Research perspectives
Endoscopic repair for RVF is effective and safe according to preliminary outcomes. It is a promising technique for the treatment of rectovaginal fistulas and provides a minimally invasive technique selection for surgeons to treat rectovaginal fistulas.
