Anorectal-vestibular fistula without an imperforate anus in female infants: report of three cases.

An anorectal-vestibular fistula without an imperforate anus in female infants is a rare clinical condition. This report is based on a series of 3 female infants who had fistulous communication between the bowel and the vestibule coexisting with a normal anus. Redness of the external genitalia over the labia major was the initial symptom in all 3 cases, and a suppurative discharge of pus mixed with stools was also found at the orifice of the fistula. Based on our experience, initial surgery with a double-barrel colostomy followed by a sequential fistulectomy might be safe and curative. We also review the related literature for the pathogenesis.