Fistula

A fistula is an abnormal connection between vessels or organs that do not usually connect. It can be due to a disease or trauma, or purposely surgically created.[3][5]

Various types of fistulas include:

• Blind: Only one open end; may also be called sinus tracts.[5]
• Complete: Both internal and external openings.[5]
• Incomplete: An external skin opening that does not connect to any internal organ.[5]

Although most fistulas are in forms of a tube, some can also have multiple branches.

K: Diseases of the digestive system

Duodeno Biliary Fistula

• (K11.4) Salivary gland fistula
• (K31.6) Fistula of stomach and duodenum
• (K31.6) Gastrocolic fistula
• (K31.6) Gastrojejunocolic fistula – after a Billroth II a fistula forms between the transverse colon and the upper jejunum (which, post Billroth II, is attached to the remainder of the stomach). Fecal matter passes improperly from the colon to the stomach and causes halitosis.
  • Enterocutaneous fistula: between the intestine and the skin surface, namely from the duodenum or the jejunum or the ileum. This definition excludes the fistulas arising from the colon or the appendix.
  • Gastric fistula: from the stomach to the skin surface
• (K38.3) Fistula of appendix
• (K60) Anal and rectal fissures and fistulas
  • (K60.3) Anal fistula
  • (K60.5) Anorectal fistula (fecal fistula, fistula-in-ano): connecting the rectum or other anorectal area to the skin surface. This results in abnormal discharge of feces through an opening other than the anus.
• (K63.2) Fistula of intestine
  • Enteroenteral fistula: between two parts of the intestine
• (K82.3) Fistula of gallbladder
• (K83.3) Fistula of bile duct
  • Biliary fistula: connecting the bile ducts to the skin surface, often caused by gallbladder surgery
  • Pancreatic fistula: between the pancreas and the exterior via the abdominal wall

• Disease: Infections including an anorectal abscess and inflammatory diseases including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis can result in fistulas.[9][10] Fistulas to the anus may occur in hidradenitis suppurativa.[11] In women, fistulas can also occur following pelvic infection and inflammation.[9]

Probed surgically excised gastrocutaneous fistula tract, that resulted from a previous gastrostomy tube.

• Surgical and medical treatment: Complications from gallbladder surgery can lead to biliary fistulas.[12] As well as being congenital or resulting from trauma, arteriovenous fistulas are created purposefully for hemodialysis.[6] Radiation therapy to the pelvis can lead to vesicovaginal fistulas.[9] Persistent gastrocutenaous fistulas can develop after gastrostomy.[13]
• Trauma: Prolonged childbirth can lead to fistulas in women, in whom abnormal connections may occur between the bladder and vagina, or the rectum and vagina.[9] An obstetric fistula develops when blood supply to the tissues of the vagina and the bladder (and/or rectum) is cut off during prolonged obstructed labor. The tissues die and a hole forms through which urine and/or feces pass uncontrollably. Vesicovaginal and rectovaginal fistulas may also be caused by rape, in particular gang rape, and rape with foreign objects, as evidenced by the abnormally high number of women in conflict areas who have developed fistulae.[14][15] In 2003, thousands of women in eastern Congo presented themselves for treatment of traumatic fistulas caused by systematic, violent gang rape, often also with sharp objects that occurred during the country's five years of war. So many cases have been reported that the destruction of the vagina is considered a war injury and recorded by doctors as a crime of combat.[16] Head trauma can lead to perilymph fistulas, whereas trauma to other parts of the body can cause arteriovenous fistulas.[17]

Treatment for fistula varies depending on the cause and extent of the fistula, but often involves surgical intervention combined with antibiotic therapy. In some cases the fistula is temporarily covered, using a fibrin glue or plug. Catheters may be required to drain a fistula.[3]

Surgery is often required to assure adequate drainage of the fistula (so that pus may escape without forming an abscess). Various surgical procedures are used, most commonly fistulotomy, placement of a seton (a cord that is passed through the path of the fistula to keep it open for draining), or an endorectal flap procedure (where healthy tissue is pulled over the internal side of the fistula to keep feces or other material from reinfecting the channel).[18]

Management involves treating any underlying causative condition. For example, surgical treatment of fistulae in Crohn's disease can be effective, but if the Crohn's disease itself is not treated, the rate of recurrence of the fistula is very high (well above 50%).

In people with kidney failure, requiring dialysis, a cimino fistula is often deliberately created in the arm by means of a short day surgery in order to permit easier withdrawal of blood for hemodialysis.

As a radical treatment for portal hypertension, surgical creation of a portacaval fistula produces an anastomosis between the hepatic portal vein and the inferior vena cava across the omental foramen (of Winslow). This spares the portal venous system from high pressure which can cause esophageal varices, caput medusae, and hemorrhoids.

Globally, every year between 50,000 and 100,000 women are affected by fistula relating to childbirth.[7]

In botany, the term is most common in its adjectival forms, where it is used in binomial names to refer to species that are distinguished by hollow or tubular structures. Monarda fistulosa, for example, has tubular flowers;[8] Eutrochium fistulosum has a tubular stem; Allium fistulosum has hollow or tubular leaves, and Acacia seyal subsp. fistula is the subspecies with hollow spines.

The term was first used in the 14th century.[2]

• Obstetric fistula
• Alexis St. Martin
• Stoma (medicine)