Transsphincteric repair of rectourethral fistulas: 15 years of experience with the York Mason approach

ObjectivesTo evaluate the surgical and functional outcomes of our single institution's 15-year experience with surgically treated rectourethral fistulas using a modification of the York Mason technique. MethodsProspectively recorded data between 2002 and 2016 of all patients who underwent transsphincteric repair of rectourethral fistula using a modified York Mason technique at Eskilstuna County Hospital, Eskilstuna, Sweden, were assessed. A total of 20 consecutive patients, including 17 referrals (85%) and three patients (15%) from our hospital have undergone the modified York Mason procedure. The surgical and functional outcomes were evaluated. ResultsOf the 20 patients, 18 were repaired successfully (90%), and one was combined with a dartos muscle interposition flap. No fistula recurrence occurred in the 18 successful repairs during the median follow-up time of 84.7 months. Before fistula repair, 12 patients (60%) underwent a diverting stoma. The remaining eight patients (40%) underwent repair and synchronous diverting stoma. We did not find any significant differences between patients in which the repair was successful compared with patients with failed repair, but diabetes, smoking and preoperative irradiation were much more frequent in the failed group. Of the 18 patients who had a successful repair, 17 patients experienced normal voiding and no urinary incontinence. One patient was suffering from postprostatectomy incontinence before rectourethral fistula repair, and was successfully treated with Scott prosthesis. All the 13 patients in whom the stoma had been closed reported intact fecal continence and no anal stenosis postoperatively. ConclusionsThe transsphincteric modified York Mason approach offers excellent exposure and a high fistula closure rate without fecal and urinary incontinence.