What is abdominal fistula?

What is abdominal fistula?

A gastrointestinal fistula is an abnormal opening in the stomach or intestines that allows the contents to leak. Leaks that go through to a part of the intestines are called entero-enteral fistulas. Leaks that go through to the skin are called enterocutaneous fistulas.

What are the four types of fistula?

Urinary Tract Fistulas.

• Vesicouterine fistula occurs between the bladder and the uterus.
• Vesicovaginal fistula is where a hole develops between the bladder and the vagina.
• Urethrovaginal fistula is between the urethra and the vagina.

How do you treat an abdominal fistula?

Surgery may involve special drains, negative-pressure therapy systems, or other therapies to allow the fistula to drain while healing. Negative-pressure therapy uses a vacuum to increase blood flow to an area and help drain excess fluid. A surgeon can sometimes correct the areas of drainage using endoscopic techniques.

What is fistula Wikipedia?

A fistula (plural: fistulas or fistulae /-li, -laɪ/; from Latin fistula, “tube, pipe”) in anatomy is an abnormal connection between two hollow spaces (technically, two epithelialized surfaces), such as blood vessels, intestines, or other hollow organs. Types of fistula can be described by their location.

What causes fistula to form?

Fistulas form when inflammation causes sores, or ulcers, to form on the inside wall of the intestine or nearby organs. Those ulcers can extend through the entire thickness of the bowel wall, creating a tunnel to drain the pus from the infected area. An abcess, or a collection of pus, can also cause a fistula to form.

Is a fistula serious?

How serious is a fistula? Fistulas can cause a lot of discomfort, and if left untreated, may cause serious complications. Some fistulas can cause a bacteria infection, which may result in sepsis, a dangerous condition that can lead to low blood pressure, organ damage or even death.

How long does it take an abdominal fistula to heal?

Fistulas from the esophagus and duodenum are expected to heal in two to four weeks. Colonic fistulas may heal in 30 to 40 days. Small bowel fistulas may take at least 40 to 60 days.

Can an abdominal fistula heal on its own?

Long-term outlook. Fistulas close on their own about 70–90 percent of the time without surgery in people who are otherwise healthy and when they produce small amounts of fluids. GIFs most often develop after abdominal surgery or as a result of chronic digestive disorders.

What causes fistula?

A fistula is an abnormal connection between two body parts, such as an organ or blood vessel and another structure. Fistulas are usually the result of an injury or surgery. Infection or inflammation can also cause a fistula to form.

How do fistulas happen?

Fistulas are usually caused by injury or surgery, they may also form after an infection has led to severe inflammation. Inflammatory bowel conditions such as Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis are examples of conditions that lead to fistulas forming, for example, between two loops of intestine.

Can you live with a fistula?

Although fistulas are associated with IBD, they can occur several years before the condition is diagnosed. While rarely life-threatening, fistulas can decrease people’s quality of life and often need combined medical and surgical treatment.

Can a fistula be removed?

There are many types of fistula, most of which healthcare professionals can surgically remove. Types of surgery and recovery times vary, but surgical success rates are high, and most people recover fully. Fistulas are a fairly common but severe complication of conditions such as Crohn’s disease and some surgeries.