Surgical treatment of enterovesical fistulas in Crohn's disease

A review of the surgical treatment of enterovesical fistula in Crohn's disease was undertaken to evaluate its effectiveness and long-term results. Sixty-three patients, 39 men and 24 women, with a mean age of 34.4 years were identified with enterovesical fistula. They had documented Crohn's disease for a mean period of 7.0 years. Distribution of anatomic pattern was 34.9 percent ileal, 7.9 percent colonic, and 57.2 percent ileocolic. Nineteen (30.1 percent) had previous abdominal surgery for Crohn's disease. Presenting symptoms included frequency and dysuria in 93.6 percent, pneumaturia in 79.3 percent, and fecaluria in 63.4 percent; 60.3 percent of patients had all three features. Enterovesical fistula was confirmed preoperatively in 43 patients, suspected clinically in 15 patients, and diagnosed intraoperatively in 5 patients. Sixty-one of 63 patients underwent surgery with resection of the phlegmon or abscess with the diseased bowel and curettage or resection of the fistula. After curettage of the bladder defect, pelvic and bladder drainage was instituted. Coexistent fistulas, most commonly ileosigmoid, occurred in 31 patients. Intra-abdominal abscesses were found in 21 patients, of whom 15 required two-stage procedures. One patient died (mortality 1.6 percent), urine leak occurred in 3.2 percent, and wound infection occurred in 1.6 percent. Follow-up (mean, 106 months) has identified one recurrence of enterovesical fistula due to Crohn's disease, and a further recurrence from concomitant sigmoid diverticulitis. Enterocutaneous fistulas developed in 6.4 percent and 11 patients (17.4 percent) have required further resections for Crohn's disease. Surgical treatment of enterovesical fistula in Crohn's disease is a safe and effective treatment.Study performed at The Cleveland Clinic Foundation.Read at the meeting of The American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons, Toronto, Canada, June 11 to 16, 1989.