Renocolic fistula following a partial nephrectomy: a case study

Abstract

Background

Uro-digestive fistulae are uncommon. They frequently manifest themselves with mild symptoms but can, in some cases, be life-threatening leading to septic shock and death. The diagnosis is facilitated by radiological explorations and their management remains mainly surgical.

Case presentation

We report the case of a diabetic 62-year-old patient who developed a renocolic fistula revealed by a digestive symptomatology, following a partial nephrectomy that was surgically treated with positive overall outcome.

Conclusion

The development of a fistula between the colon and the kidney is very rare. Although the outcome was positive at the price of total nephrectomy and partial colectomy, the diagnosis and management of the fistula were challenging. Urologists should keep in mind the possibility of a fistula developing in the aftermath of a partial nephrectomy.

Background

A renocolic fistula is a communication between the kidney and the colon that is in most cases, secondary to local chronic inflammation. It can also be a result of a trauma, a malignant process or be iatrogenic. Clinical manifestations range from mild fever, diarrhea or fecaluria to septic shock leading to death. The diagnosis is radiological. It can be made by a CT urogram or a fistulogram if cutaneous extension of the fistula is present. The treatment remains surgical and could include a nephrectomy or/and partial colectomy. Although it can be more conservative in some cases (iatrogenic fistulae).

Case presentation

An asymptomatic 62-year-old patient was admitted to the urology department following the incidental discovery of a mass on the lower pole of the right kidney. His past medical history included midline hernia repair in 2000 and type 2 diabetes since 2010.

The CT urogram study showed a 3 cm mass on the lower pole of a pelvic located right kidney. The arterial supply to the right kidney was delivered by one main artery and one upper polar artery originating from the aorta, the venous return drained through one main renal vein into the vena cava.

The patient case was assessed in a multidisciplinary concertation meeting that recommended the patient to undergo an open partial nephrectomy. The surgery went without any incident. The bleeding was estimated at 100 cc and cold ischemia time was 24 min. Post-operative care was simple.

Histopathology study identified the tumor as a grade 2 of Fuhrman classification clear cell renal cell carcinoma measuring 3,2 cm. The lesion was contained within a pseudocapsule without surrounding fat invasion. It was classified as pT1a of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) TNM system.

A month after discharge, the patient is admitted to the emergency department complaining of chills and diarrhea for 8 days. Upon examination, the patient was slightly dehydrated but hemodynamically stable. The blood workout found a high C-reactive protein at 76 mg/L and an elevated creatinine at 127 mg/L for an estimated glomerular filtration rate at 52 mL/min per 1.73 m² using MDRD formula. The abdominal ultrasound found a 40-mm fluid collection near the lower pole of the right kidney. This prompted us to prescribe an abdominal CT-scan that found no sign of mesenteric ischemia but confirmed the presence of a 40-mm pararenal urinoma. Seeing no improvement in the patient symptomatology, he underwent a colonoscopy that was normal.

The patient received fluids, antalgics and symptomatic treatment that improved his symptoms. He was discharged days later with a follow-up abdominal CT-scan.

A month later, the patient was seen at a follow-up visit with the result of the abdominal CT-scan that showed a renocolic fistula (Fig. 1).

Fig. 1

Abdominal CT-scan showing the renocolic fistula. a, b Air in the renal pelvis, c retroperitoneal fat hyperdensity

A second colonoscopy was performed showing the colic orifice of the renocolic fistula at 25 cm from anal margin.

The decision of the multidisciplinary concertation meeting was to perform a right total nephrectomy with partial colectomy. Upon exploration, a renocolic fistula surrounded by inflammatory tissue was found. The surgery went well. A draining tube was left for 24 h (Fig. 2).

Fig. 2

Perioperative view of the surgical field showing the renocolic fistula

Histopathology study identified the fistula surrounded by areas of steatonecrosis and angiogenesis without any malignant characteristics. Resection margins were clear.

Discussion

Many cases of fistulae developing between the subdiaphragmatic digestive tract and the urinary system have been reported in the literature [1]. These fistulae could be secondary to chronic inflammation caused by non-specific infection (xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis) or specific infection like in urogenital tuberculosis, radiation therapy, urolithiasis [2,3] or a foreign body [4,5] (ureteral stents, nephrostomy…). Fistulae can also form, resulting of a traumatism [6,7] that can either be blunt or open (stab wounds or ballistic trauma), or a tumoral process involving either the digestive tract [8] (colonic adenocarcinomas…) or the urinary system [10] (renal cell carcinoma, upper tract transitional cell carcinoma). Some cases of iatrogenic fistulae after the placement of a nephrostomy tube have been reported [5].

The renocolic fistula is the most common location of uro-digestive fistulae. Its development is in most cases a consequence of primary renal pathology. The frequency of this variety of uro-digestive fistulae can be explained by the location and close proximity of the involved organs. It often arises from the development of an acute local inflammatory process leading to chronic perinephritis. The later evolve into an abscess that drains into the adjoining colon, leaving a fistular tract. This phenomenon is more likely to take place in immunocompromised patients.

The clinical presentation is that of a suppurative illness that varies in gravity, from mild symptoms to septic shock. General symptoms include fever, chills, dehydration and weight loss associated with gastrointestinal symptoms like abdominal pain and persistent diarrhea, as seen in the present case. Urinary symptoms like pneumaturia or fecaluria [9] are also reported and can be suggestive of a uro-digestive fistula. Tenderness on palpation of the renal angle can be seen. A cutaneous extension of the fistula has been reported in some cases. [9]

Radiological investigations are the key to the diagnosis in most cases. It can be made either by urinary tract, less often digestive tract, opacifications or by computed tomography demonstrating the fistulous communication. A fistulogram can help to the diagnosis when a cutaneous extension is present. [9]

The management of renocolic fistulae is in most cases surgical. It consists of a nephrectomy since the affected kidney is destroyed by the inflammatory process or contains malignancy, with partial colectomy and primary anastomosis if possible. A more conservative approach can be taken for the management of iatrogenic fistulae caused by instrumentation.

Conclusion

Renocolic fistula is a rare entity caused either by a local inflammatory process, malignancy or a traumatic event. The diagnosis is nearly always made radiologically and its management is multidisciplinary and is often surgical.