Fistula
Definition
A fistula is an abnormal connection between an organ, vessel, or
intestine and another organ, vessel or intestine,
or the skin. Fistulas can be thought of as tubes
connecting internal tubular structures, such as
arteries, veins, or intestine, to one another
or to the skin. Fistulas are usually the result
of trauma or surgery, but can also result from
infection or inflammation. Inflammatory bowel
disease, such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn's
disease, is an example of a disease which leads
to fistulas between one loop of intestine and
another (enetero-enteral fistula) or intestine
and skin (enterocutaneous fistula). Trauma can
lead to fistulas between arteries and veins (arteriovenous
fistulas).
Information
Fistulas may occur in many
parts of the body. Some of these are:
- Arteriovenous (between an artery and vein)
- Biliary (created during gallbladder surgery,
connecting bile ducts to the surface of the
skin)
- Cervical (either an abnormal opening into
the cervix or in the neck)
- Craniosinus (between the intracranial space
and a paranasal sinus)
- Enterovaginal (between the bowel and vagina)
- Fecal or anal (the feces is discharged through
an opening other than the anus)
- Gastric (from the stomach to the surface
of the skin)
- Metroperitoneal (between the uterus and
peritoneal cavity)
- Pulmonary arteriovenous (in a lung, the
pulmonary artery and vein are connected, allowing
the blood to bypass the oxygenation process
in the lung (pulmonary arteriovenous fistula)
- Umbilical (connection between the umbilicus
and gut)
Types of fistulas include:
- Blind (open on one end only, but connects
to two structures)
- Complete (has both external and internal
openings)
- Horseshoe (connecting the anus to one or
more points on the surface of the skin after
going around the rectum)
- Incomplete (a tube from the skin that is
closed on the inside and does not connect
to any internal organ or structure)
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