Abstract:Objective：To investigate the causes and outcome of different treatment methods of iatrogenic rectovaginal fistula. Methods：Clinical data of 52 patients with iatrogenic rectovaginal fistula were analyzed retrospectively. Results：Twenty-two fistulae occurred after gynecological operation (42.3%), fourteen after obstetric injury (26.9%), thirteen after colorectal operation (25.0%) and three due to miscellaneous causes (5.8%). The fistulae were located in the lower rectum in 27 cases(51.9%), mid rectum in 10 cases(19.2%) and upper rectum in 15 cases(28.9%). They were treated by non-surgical treatment in 9 cases(17.3%), permanent diverting stoma(loop transverse colostomy) in 8 cases(15.4%), and surgical repair by various approaches in 35 cases(67.3%). The fistulae of all nine patients who received non-surgical treatment failed to heal. Eight patients who received permanent diverting stoma had symptomatic improvement without fistula healing. The overall cure rate of surgical repairs in 35 cases was 77.1%(27/35). The cure rates of trans-sphincteric (Mason′s operation), transanal, transabdominal, transperineal and transvaginal approaches were 100%(8/8), 100%(2/2), 83.3%(5/6), 0%(0/1) and 66.7%(12/18), respectively. The cure rate of Mason′s operation for the mid and lower rectovaginal fistulae was higher than that of transvaginal approach (100% vs 66.7%). Conclusions：Iatrogenic rectovaginal fistula is caused by obstetric injury or injury of rectovaginal septum due to surgical mismanagement. Surgical repair is the only method that can cure rectovaginal fistulae. Mason′s operation is a favorable treatment method for the mid and lower (especially mid) rectovaginal fistulae.