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Case Report

Rare Complication Post-Conization for Cervical Dysplasia: Rectovaginal Fistula

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Submitted:

11 July 2023

Posted:

12 July 2023

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Abstract

(1) Background: High-grade cervical dysplasia is primarily caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Conservative surgery is the preferred treatment approach for this condition. The most commonly employed technique is the loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP), which involves removing the affected portion of the cervix. Excisional treatments are often curative, and complications are typically rare and minor; (2) Methods: The loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) is the standard method used for conservative surgery in high-grade cervical dysplasia. It entails the excision of the specific area of the cervix where the abnormal cells are present. The procedure employs a wire loop carrying an electrical current to remove the affected tissue; (3) Results: Excisional treatments, such as LEEP, have shown to be effective in treating high-grade cervical dysplasia. They have a high success rate in eliminating abnormal cells and reducing the risk of cervical cancer. Complications associated with LEEP are infrequent and usually minor. Short-term complications may include bleeding, which can be managed easily. Long-term complications may involve cervical canal stenosis, which can impact fertility; (4) Conclusions: Conservative surgery, particularly the loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP), is the preferred and effective treatment for high-grade cervical dysplasia caused by HPV infection. It offers a high cure rate with rare and minor complications. While short-term bleeding is a common occurrence, it is manageable. Long-term complications such as cervical canal stenosis may impact fertility. However, an extremely rare and possibly unique complication described in this case is the development of a vaginorectal fistula. This complication is likely due to indirect thermal injury resulting from compromised tissue. Further research is needed to better understand and prevent such complications.

Keywords:

Subject: Medicine and Pharmacology - Obstetrics and Gynaecology

1. Introduction

The current morphological criteria for histological diagnosis of cervical lesions are based on the WHO 2014 classification [1]. Within the context of high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL), a distinction is necessary between moderate-grade lesions (moderate dysplasia/CIN2) and more severe lesions (severe dysplasia, carcinoma in situ/CIN3) [2,3]. The recommended treatment is excisional treatment, specifically conization, in which the pathological tissue is removed for subsequent histological examination. Conization allows for the removal of all visible pathological tissue observed during colposcopy and serves both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. The excised tissue includes the exocervix and endocervix and is shaped like a cone/cylinder with an endocervical apex. Various techniques can be employed for the excision, such as cold knife, laser, loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP), and large loop excision of the transformation zone (LLETZ) [4,5]. Currently, generators capable of emitting high-frequency alternating currents (400 KHz-4 MHz) at low voltage are used, with variable power ranging from 100 to 400W. The active electrodes employed are loop-shaped (Figure 1) and can have different configurations (circular, rectangular, square) with diameters and depths ranging from 0.5 to 2 cm [6].

The diameter of the wire, made of steel and tungsten, does not exceed 0.2 mm. This characteristic allows for a high density of current to pass through it, resulting in the vaporization of the tissue proximally to the wire due to the high temperature produced on a very small surface area. The loop is slowly inserted into the cervix to achieve the excision of a roughly conical-shaped sample [7]. Immediate complications may include intraoperative bleeding (4.2-7.9%) and postoperative bleeding (0.4-2.6%), postoperative infections (0.3-3.5%), and damage to adjacent organs (0.06-0.5%) [8,9]. Late complications include cervical canal stenosis, which can cause dysmenorrhea and hematometra in fertile patients, or it can mask uterine bleeding in postmenopausal women, which can be an early symptom of endometrial neoplasia [10,11]. The excisional techniques appear to slightly worsen the obstetric outcome in subsequent pregnancies [12,13]. Currently, it is not known whether the treatment can cause future fertility problems or affect the course of subsequent pregnancies. Some studies have reported a modestly increased risk of miscarriage and preterm delivery directly proportional to the size of the excised cone [14].

2. Case Report

A 34-year-old woman undergoes a screening Pap test with an H-SIL result, which prompts a counseling session regarding the significance of the high-grade lesion and further diagnostic tests. She undergoes a diagnostic colposcopy with biopsy. The histological result shows CIN 2, and a proposal for a conization procedure is made. Counseling regarding the procedure is provided, and informed consent is obtained. After preparing the surgical field, vaginal valves are placed, and colposcopy is performed in the operating room, revealing a cervical lesion that is larger than initially diagnosed. The margins are delineated, and the cone is excised using a diathermic loop. Subsequently, enlargements are necessary to ensure the complete removal of the macroscopically visible lesion. During the surgical procedures, there is significant bleeding, likely originating from the right cervical branch of the uterine artery. Hemostatic stitches are applied to the right vaginal wall to control the bleeding. The application of the stitches is successful in achieving hemostasis, as superficial stitches would have resulted in failure to contain the bleeding with potentially severe consequences for the patient. The ureter was not injured during the placement of the stitches. The histological examination classifies the lesion as CIN3, which is internationally classified as carcinoma in situ. This lesion is present in all the margins excised following the cone procedure (Figure 2).

Morphologically, enlarged and hyperchromatic nuclei, clumped chromatin, irregularities, and notches in the nuclear membrane, and altered nuclear/cytoplasmic ratio can be observed. Mitotic figures at various levels are also frequent (Figure 3 and Figure 4).

Figure 3-4. CIN3 histological sample.

The lesion was completely removed; in the small cone performed on the remaining cervical canal, therefore on the portion of the cervix that was not removed, no histological lesion is present (Figure 5).

In the postoperative course, the patient experienced nonspecific symptoms: she remained afebrile, had mild pelvic pain at the site of the vaginal suture, which was managed with paracetamol as needed, and had diarrhea throughout the hospital stay. Only on the fifth postoperative day, malodorous secretions were observed in the vagina, and the patient was promptly examined for suspected vagino-rectal fistula. Immediate antibiotic therapy was initiated, and further diagnostic and radiologic tests confirmed the clinical suspicion of vagino-rectal fistula (Figure 6a–c), and the patient undergone adequate surgical treatment.

3. Results and Conclusions

The biopsy performed under colposcopic guidance confirmed involvement of two-thirds of the entire thickness of the squamous epithelial lining, with a diagnosis of HSIL/CIN2. Approximately two months later, the lesion progressed, and when the patient underwent conization with a loop diathermy, the cytological abnormalities involved the full thickness of the squamous epithelium, indicating HSIL/CIN3. Conization with loop diathermy offers numerous advantages and is currently the most used excisional technique. The therapeutic success rate ranges from 90% to 97%. The excisional treatment is indicated to allow histological examination of the removed tissue, which is necessary to identify any tumors and plan the most appropriate oncological treatment. In fact, the frequency of “occult” invasive carcinomas can reach 12% of cases, primarily consisting of stage pT1A1, pT1A2, and stage 1B tumors. It should be noted that staging for stage 1A is postoperative [15]. Postoperative bleeding is usually minor, but in this case, bleeding from the uterine cervical branch required the application of hemostatic sutures. The sutures were performed on the right vaginal wall, away from the rectum, excluding any transfixion involving the rectum and vagina. The thermal damage caused by the loop on the lateral walls of the cone is negligible (maximum thickness 50-300μ), allowing the pathologist to make a satisfactory histological evaluation. In the case of extensive lesions, the excision site can be widened. Any bleeding originating from the walls of the loss of substance created by the passage of the loop is then cauterized using a ball electrode, which also helps eliminate any glandular involvement [16,17,18]. The procedure was performed with the application of vaginal valves, and therefore, the cervix and vagina were examined before, during, and after the surgery, with no areas of vaginal mucosal injury observed. The integrity of the vaginal mucosa in its entirety and the proper removal of the pathological component of the cervix indicate the correct use of loop diathermy in all stages of the procedure, both in conization and subsequent widening. The CIN3 lesion, classified as carcinoma in situ in the international literature, was completely excised by widening the margins of the lesion. The presence of HR-HPV infection and CIN has been found to be associated with changes in the vaginal microbiota and alteration of local immune function, which may contribute to the pathogenesis of preterm delivery. These factors should also be considered in surgical procedures, as they can cause anatomical and functional damage to the cervix [19,20]. Inappropriate excisional treatment and subsequent difficult diagnosis due to poorly identifiable margins can mask an invasive lesion and, in cases of diagnostic uncertainty, lead to hysterectomy even in young women [21].

In conclusion, the clinical therapeutic pathway and subsequent surgical treatment can be considered appropriate. The lesion was present in all the enlargements, without which complete removal of the lesion would not have been achieved. The thermal damage is not considered a direct cause of the rectovaginal fistula, but it is likely an indirect cause due to HPV-related dysplasia associated with immune defenses alteration, as well as from dysentery, which can disrupt intestinal metabolism and lower its immune defenses, creating an inflammatory state that weakens tissue walls.

Author Contributions

Conceptualization, P.I., S.I., L.I. and C.D.I.; methodology, S.I. and C.D.I.; validation, L.I. and P.I.; formal analysis, P.M., T.S., M.M. and R.P.; resources and data curation, R.B. and C.V.; writing—original draft preparation and review, P.M.; supervision, M.M. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Funding

This research received no external funding.

Institutional Review Board Statement

The Local Institutional Review Board deemed the study exempt from review.

Informed Consent Statement

Informed consent was obtained from all subjects involved in the study.

Data Availability Statement

Data are available asking to the corresponding author under reasonable request.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Figure 1. Semi-round loop-shaped electrode terminal with dimensions of 22 mm x 12 mm and a length of 13 cm.

Figure 2. Histological sample of the excised tissue.

Figure 5. No identificable lesion on the residual cervix canal.

Figure 6. (a) Plain radiography shows free sub diaphragmatic air (white arrows). (b) Contrast enhanced CT. A small fistula (white arrow) connects the rectum with the upper portion of the vaginal canal. Diffuse thickening of soft tissues close to the mesorectal fascia is associated with a thin fluid layer (asterisks). (c) A frame of fluoroscopy obtained by single contrast enema performed with gastrografin. The contrast medium, injected transvaginally through a small tube (asterisk), spreads into the surrounding soft tissues (white arrows) and, to a lesser amount, into the rectum (arrowhead), confirming the presence of a pervious fistula.

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