For example, fistulas can occur between the rectum and the vagina or the intestine and the skin.
There are several causes of fistulas, including abscesses, surgery, and Crohn’s disease.
Symptoms depend on the location of the fistula.
Verywell / Nusha Ashjaee
Creating an AV fistula increases blood flow into a vein, providing good access to blood vessels.
What Causes a Fistula?
Fistulas commonly form because of anabscess, a pocket of pus in the body.
The abscess may be constantly filling with body fluids such asstoolor urine, which prevents healing.
Trauma by way of injury or surgery is another common cause.
Fistulas are also especially common inCrohn’s disease.
Up to 50% ofpeople with Crohn’s disease develop fistulaswithin 20 years of diagnosis.
Although rare, inflammatory and infectious conditions like diverticulitis and tuberculosis can cause fistulas.
During a fistulogram, a dye is injected into the fistula, and X-rays are taken.
The dye helps the fistula to show up better on the X-rays.
The dye is inserted into the rectum, similar to anenema, for fistulas that are in the rectum.
The dye must be ‘held’ inside during the procedure.
As with any other kind of X-ray, remaining still is important.
The dye (contrast material) is injected into the arm, and several X-rays are taken.
Potential Complications
A fistula may cause complications.
In some cases, fistulas might not heal and become chronic.
Other potential complications include fecal incontinence,sepsis,perforation, andperitonitis.
Sepsisis a life-threatening illness that results from the body’s response to a bacterial infection.
An enteral diet may be prescribed for enterovaginal, enterocutaneous, and enterovesicular fistulas.
An enteral diet is liquid nutrition that is taken by mouth or given through a feeding tube.
Liquid nutrition formulas replace solid food and contain vital nutrients.
If the fistula is in a very diseased part of the bowel, aresectionmay have to be performed.
A resection may result in a temporaryileostomy.
Stool is diverted through the ileostomy, giving the part of the intestine with the fistula time to heal.
Prognosis
The location and severity of the fistula play a major role in determining treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Fistulas are generally not cancerous.
Healing times for a fistula can vary, especially when non-surgical treatments are used.
When a fistula requires surgery, the surgical wound generally takes several weeks to several months to heal.
Although rare, a fistula can bleed.
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