[Surgical treatment of radiation-induced rectovaginal fistulas by the continence resection procedure].

The results of 24 operations for repairing rectovaginal fistulas secondary to irradiation for pelvic cancer are presented.--Treatment involved subtotal rectal and sigmoid colon resection with restoration of continuity by means of a peranal coloanal sleeve anastomosis between healthy colon and the rectal stump denuded of its mucosa.--The functional result in 20 of 24 patients who underwent this procedure was satisfactory to excellent, only 2 patients had partial rectal incontinence. 2 of these patients (8.3%) died from a heart attack or renal insufficiency respectively. No death occurred from anastomotic leakage.