Rectourethral fistula: A rare complication of injection sclerotherapy

Abstract

In the modern era, the incidence of rectourethral fistula (RUF) has been on a rise due to an increasing number of surgeries being performed for prostatic carcinoma. Other causes of this condition still remain rare and their management differs from that of post prostatectomy RUF. We report a rare case of a young man who presented with leakage of urine per rectum 4 weeks after injection sclerotherapy for haemorrhoids. A Micturating Cystourethrogram/Retrograde Cystourethrogram revealed the presence of RUF arising at the level of prostrato-membranous urethra and the urine examination did not show any fecal contamination of urine. A fistula at the level or verumontanum along with stricture of the distal penile urethra was demonstrated on urethroscopy. The patient was successfully managed by dilatation of the stricture segment and urethral catheterization. RUF can rarely result from injection sclerotherapy and must be thoroughly evaluated. Cases which present early and have minimal contamination of urine by fecal contents can be conservatively managed with a simple Foleys catheterization for 4-6 weeks after ruling out any obstruction distal to the fistulous tract.

Keywords

• Conservative management
• haemorrhoids
• injection sclerotherapy
• rectourethral fistula