Stromal vascular fraction injection to treat intractable radiation-induced rectovaginal fistula

• Published in: Archives of plastic surgery Vol. 48; no. 1; pp. 127 - 130
• Main Authors: Kim, Mijung, Lew, Dae Hyun, Roh, Tai Suk, Song, Seung Yong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 333 Seventh Avenue, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10001, USA Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc 01.01.2021; Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons; 대한성형외과학회
• Subjects: Extremity/Lymphedema; fat graft; mesenchymal stem cell; radiation effect; rectovaginal fistula; 성형외과학; Mesenchymal stem cell; Radiation effect; Fat graft; Rectovaginal fistula
• ISSN: 2234-6163; 2234-6171; 2234-6171
• DOI: 10.5999/aps.2020.01718

Rectovaginal fistula, which can arise after an injury to the vaginal canal or rectum, is a troublesome obstacle for patients’ everyday life. In most cases, it can be covered with a local flap, but previous radiation therapy increases the recurrence rate, making it especially difficult to cure. As the application of stromal vascular fraction (SVF) obtained from enzymatically digested autologous adipose tissue has become increasingly common, several reports have advocated its effectiveness for the treatment of refractory wounds. In light of the angiogenic, regenerative characteristics of SVF, it was incorporated as a treatment option in two cases of rectovaginal fistula discussed here. As described in this report, irradiated rectovaginal fistulas in rectal cancer patients were successfully treated with SVF injection, and we suggest SVF as a feasible treatment option for cases of rectovaginal fistula that would otherwise be very difficult to cure.