CONSERVATIVE MANAGEMENT OF RECTOCUTANEOUS FISTULA FOLLOWING RADICAL PERINEAL PROSTATECTOMY

Inadvertent rectal injury during radical perineal prostatectomy may so metimes lead to the development of a rectocutaneous fistula. This has traditionally been managed with diverting colostomy until closure of t he fistula is assured. We report 3 cases of rectocutaneous fistula fol lowing radical perineal prostatectomy, which were managed in a more co nservative fashion. This included appropriate wound care, antibiotics, bower rest, parenteral hyperalimentation, and, in the presence of a c oncomitant urine leak in 1 case, optimal urinary diversion and bed res t. All fistulas healed without incident.