Management of Rectourethral Fistula following a Gunshot Injury with Gracilis Flap: A Case Report
- Resource Type
- article
- Authors
- Mutlu Değer; Fatih Gökalp; Eyüphan Gencel; Erkan Demir; Zühtü Tansuğ
- Source
- Journal of Urological Surgery, Vol 4, Iss 1, Pp 23-25 (2017)
- Subject
- Gunshot injury
rectourethral fistula
gracilis flap
Surgery
RD1-811
Diseases of the genitourinary system. Urology
RC870-923
- Language
- English
- ISSN
- 2148-9580
Rectourethral fistulas are uncommon and can be classified as congenital or acquired. We present a case of rectourethral fistula following a shotgun injury and describe a surgical method of closing poorly healing defects between the urethra and rectum by means of a muscular flap of the gracilis muscle (GM). A 20-year-old man underwent laparotomy and colostomy for gunshot trauma. In postoperative first week, the patient began complaining of urine coming from the rectum. Retrograde urethrography revealed a fistulous opening connecting the prostatic urethra and the rectum. The transperineal approach with a GM flap interposition is currently the most commonly used method and one of the effective procedures for treating complex fistulae. Morbidity after a GM flap interposition is known to be low. GM transposition is a useful and effective method for the treatment of rectourethral fistula.