FistulaDefinition: A fistula is an abnormal connection between an organ, vessel, or intestine and another structure. Fistulas are usually the result of�injury or surgery.�It can also result from infection or inflammation. Inflammatory bowel disease, such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease, is an example of a disease�that leads to fistulas between one loop of intestine and another. Injury can lead to fistulas between arteries and veins.
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 space inside the skull and a nasal 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�navel 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 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 structure)
References: Feldman M, Friedman LS, Sleisenger MH, eds. Sleisenger & Fordtran�s Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: WB Saunders; 2002:2285-2286. Townsend CM, Beauchamp RD, Evers BM, Mattox KL,�Sabiston Textbook of Surgery, 17th ed. St. Louis, MO: WB Saunders; 2004:1497-1500.
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