Endoscopic closure of a rectal fistula using a cardiac septal defect occluder: the final redemption

An 84-year-old man with medical history of T1 bladder cancer underwent radical cystectomy, with subsequent complication of surgical site abscess. Abdominal computed tomography revealed free gas at the surgical site and a rectal wall defect suggestive of fistula. Despite conservative treatment, the patient had persistent penial and anal discharge and was referred for endoscopic closure.

Colonoscopy showed a 6-mm fistulous tract between the cystectomy surgical site and the rectal wall ([Fig. 1]). Initial closure with 12/6 t over-the-scope (OTS) clips after margin epithelial ablation was attempted twice (second attempt with combined placement of a detachable snare below the OTS clip), 3 months apart ([Fig. 2]). Despite initial technical and clinical success, the fistula recurred after spontaneous detachment of the OTS clips. Endoscopic internal drainage with a double-pigtail stent was also tried ([Fig. 3]); however, the fistula persisted after distal spontaneous migration 2 months later. Given the persistence of the fistula, closure with a cardiac septal defect occluder (CSDO) was proposed.

Fig. 1 Rectal wall orifice (diameter 6 mm), corresponding to fistulous tract between the cystectomy surgical site and the anterior rectal wall seen at index colonoscopy.

Fig. 2 Combined use of a 12/6 t over-the-scope (OTS) clip and a detachable snare below the OTS clip after margin epithelial ablation.

Fig. 3 Endoscopic internal drainage using a 7-Fr 4-cm double-pigtail plastic stent.

After fluoroscopic characterization of the defect (surgical site 20 × 25 mm; fistulous tract length 4 mm; fistula orifice diameter 3 mm), a 16/4/12 mm CSDO was chosen ([Video 1]). After placement of a 0.035-inch guidewire from the rectum into the surgical site, guided by a 5.4-Fr angiography catheter, a delivery sheath was advanced into the surgical site over the guidewire. After mounting the CSDO on the loading device, it was advanced inside the delivery sheath, and correctly deployed with the proximal flange in the surgical site and the distal flange in the rectum ([Fig. 4], [Fig. 5]).

Video 1 Use of a cardiac septal defect occluder for endoscopic closure of a fistula between the rectum and post-cystectomy surgical site.

Fig. 4 Fluoroscopic image of the cardiac septal defect occluder after deployment, with the proximal flange correctly opened in the surgical site and the distal flange in the rectum.

Fig. 5 Endoscopic image of the cardiac septal defect occluder after deployment, with correct apposition between the device and the rectal wall.

The patient remains well, without clinical recurrence.

CSDO is an off-label device for closure of gastrointestinal fistulas and should be considered for chronic fistulas refractory to conventional endoscopic treatments [1] [2]. To date, only four cases of lower gastrointestinal fistula (all rectovaginal) closure with CSDO have been reported [3] [4] [5]. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of endoscopic closure of a fistula between the rectum and surgical site.

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Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

• References

• 1 Hourneaux de Moura DT, Jirapinyo P, Hathorn KE. et al. Use of a cardiac septal occluder in the treatment of a chronic GI fistula: what should we know before off-label use in the GI tract?. VideoGIE 2019; 4: 114-117
• 2 Baptista A, Hourneaux De Moura DT, Jirapinyo P. et al. Efficacy of the cardiac septal occluder in the treatment of post-bariatric surgery leaks and fistulas. Gastrointest Endosc 2019; 89: 671-679
• 3 Simmons J, Sherif A, Mader J. et al. Closure of recurrent colovaginal fistulas using AMPLATZER occluder device. BMJ Open Gastroenterol 2022; 9: e000921
• 4 Alabaz O, Topal U. Innovative technique for the closure of rectovaginal fistula using Amplatzer™ septal occluder. J Evolution Med Dent Sci 2021; 10: 2225-2227
• 5 Sadiq O, Simmer S, Watson A. et al. Colovaginal fistula closure using a cardiac septal defect occluder. VideoGIE 2020; 6: 41-43

Publication History

Article published online:
21 August 2023