Fistula

• 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, Brandt LJ, eds. Sleisenger & Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2006.

  Townsend CM, Beauchamp RD, Evers BM, Mattox KL, Sabiston Textbook of Surgery, 17th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2006.

Review Date: 8/2/2009

Reviewed By: Linda Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.