CA
A 32-year-old member asked:
How does fistula usually form?
2 doctor answers • 5 doctors weighed in
Dr. Vivek Huilgolanswered
Gastroenterology 36 years experience
Inflammation: Either as a result of an infection that 'burrows' or from another source, e.g. Ibd (inflammatory bowel disease) - not to be confused with IBS (irritable bowel syndrome).
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Barry Rosenanswered
General Surgery 35 years experience
Inflammation, Cancer: Anything that can cause the intestine to rupture can potentially lead to a fistula. The most common causes include diverticulitis, inflammatory bowel disease, and colorectal cancer. When a hole occurs, the body's natural tendency is to want to seal this perforation. Typically, an adjacent organ will "band-aid" the hole shut, but the inflammation will burrow a hole into this second structure.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Similar questions
A 47-year-old member asked:
Where do fistulas form?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
Dr. Eric Kaplananswered
Colon and Rectal Surgery 43 years experience
Depends: There are many kinds of fistulas. By definition a fistula is an abnormal communication from one organ to another. Anal fistulas arise from the anal crypts internally. Enterocutaneous fistulas connect the bowel to the skin, fistulas can develop from almost any organ and most often indicate some underlying disease process.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Last updated May 22, 2019
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