Palliation of a malignant rectal stricture and rectovesical fistula with colonic stenting.

Rectovesical fistulas may be present in patients with primary and recurrent rectal tumors.[1] In patients with inoperable rectal cancer and a rectovesicular fistula, palliative surgical therapy includes a diverting colostomy. Palliation after these procedures is often only partial, with the development of recurrent infections and stoma problems.[2] We describe what we believe to be the second reported case in the literature of a rectovesical fistula that was effectively treated with a covered self-expanding metal stent (SEMS).[3]