PURPOSE New technical approaches involving biologically derived products have been used to treat complex anal fistulas in order to avoid the risk of fecal incontinence. The least invasive methods involve filling out the fistula tract with fibrin glue or introduction of an anal fistula plug into the fistula canal following thorough curettage. A review shows that the new techniques involving biol...

Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia is a nonprofit organization [3] that began in 1974 as a joint endeavor by Reginald and Catherine Hamlin and the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia promotes reproductive health in Ethiopia by raising awareness and implementing treatment and preventive services for women affected by obstetric fistulas. It also aims to restore the...

BACKGROUND Anorectal fistula represents an epithelized communication path of infectious origin between the rectum or anal canal and the perianal region. The association of endoscopic surgery with the minimally invasive approach led to the development of the video-assisted anal fistula treatment. AIM To describe the technique and initial experience with the technique video-assisted for anal fi...

Abstract Background Obstetric fistula (OF) complicated by urethral loss (UL) poses a challenge to both the surgeon and obstetric patient. The involvement of urethra closure mechanism in OF is an important determinant successful restoration urinary continence. with UL often associated unsuccessful repair outcome. We describe reconstruction genital tract patients outcomes repair. Methods Aim To r...

BACKGROUND In Burundi, the annual incidence of obstetric fistula is estimated to be 0.2-0.5% of all deliveries, with 1000-2000 new cases per year. Despite this relatively high incidence, national capacity for identifying and managing obstetric fistula is very limited. Thus, in July 2010, Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) set up a specialised Obstetric Fistula Centre in Gitega (Gitega Fistula Centr...

OBJECTIVE To determine whether sisters of women with obstetric fistula (OF) were aware of their sisters' condition, in order to inform the development of survey questions that adapt the sister-based method to fistula rate estimation. METHODS Twelve women with OF and 20 of their sisters were interviewed using semi-structured questionnaires in rural Uganda in 2007. Topics included fistula aware...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES A growing number of operations for sigmoid diverticulitis are being done laparoscopically. There is a paucity of data on the outcome of laparoscopy for sigmoid diverticulitis complicated by colonic fistula. The aim of this study was to compare the results of laparoscopic resection of sigmoid diverticulitis with and without colonic fistula. METHODS A retrospective rev...

Chronic tracheoesophageal fistula is a rare disease presenting a therapeutic challenge. Unlike the case with most digestive fistulas, drainage with a pigtail stent [1] is not possible. We present here the case of a 47-yearold man referred for a chronic 2-mm tracheoesophageal fistula (23 cm from mouth) of unknown cause. His past history revealed several pulmonary infections since childhood. Seve...

Introduction Duplex ultrasound has become the first line of investigation for the autogenous arterio-venous hemodialysis fistula (aAVF). In recent work published by our group, we showed that duplex ultrasound was as accurate as fistulography in the assessment of fistula stenoses. The emergence of duplex ultrasound as the primary tool for examination of the aAVF is the result of better technolog...

Obstetric fistula has been eliminated in developed countries, but remains highly prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa. The End fistula campaign is the first concerted effort to eradicate the disease. The objective of this review is to retrieve and link available evidence to obstetric fistula prevention strategies in sub-Saharan Africa, since the campaign began. We searched databases for original res...