Acquired rectourethral fistula: case report

Rectourethral fistulas are an uncommon complication of urinary or rectal surgery, trauma, inflammatory disease, radiation therapy for prostate cancer; they represent an unique challenge for the surgeon. Although closure can occure spontaneously, most cases of acquired rectourethral fistula need surgical repair. Despite a century of surgical experience, no single approach has been universally accepted. We report a case of a rectourethral fistula occurred in a 73 year-old man after a radical retropubic prostatectomy and external beam irradiation for prostate cancer, successfully treated with perineal approach.