CA
A 32-year-old member asked:
how does fistula usually form?
2 doctor answers • 5 doctors weighed in
Dr. Vivek Huilgol answered
Gastroenterology 35 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).
6122 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Barry Rosen answered
General Surgery 34 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.
6122 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
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Similar questions
A 44-year-old member asked:
How long will it take for my new fistula to mature?
5 doctor answers • 11 doctors weighed in
Dr. Patrick Wyffels answered
Specializes in Critical Care
Varies: You probably are refering to a "fistula" for hemodialysis. Maturing refers to the vein dilating ( streching to a larger daimeter than normal as the wall tends to thicken. The amount of flow into the vein will determine the time for "maturing". This may take 2 - 6 weeks. There is a delicate balance between the flow into the fistula and the flow into the tissues ( usually the hand ).
6092 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
CA
A 38-year-old member asked:
What are other kinds of fistula?
2 doctor answers • 4 doctors weighed in
A Verified Doctor answered
A US doctor answered Learn more
Innumerable: There are dozens of different kinds. A fistula is basically an abnormal connection between parts of the body. You can have fistulas between the arteries & veins, small bowel & colon, intestine & bladder, bowel & vagina, lungs & bile ducts, stomach & lungs, esophagus & trachea.... I think you get the idea.
6060 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 39-year-old member asked:
What happens if I have a fistula?
2 doctor answers • 5 doctors weighed in
Dr. Joshua Katz answered
Colon and Rectal Surgery 28 years experience
Anal Fistula: Anal fistula can cause pain, bleeding, discharge and infection.
They should be evaluated and treated by a surgeon skilled and comfortable with anorectal diseases. Fistula can be complicated or simple and may require more than one surgery.
Fistula should be treated; they rarely resolve on their own.
6118 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
CA
A 34-year-old member asked:
Are av fistulas permanent?
2 doctor answers • 7 doctors weighed in
Dr. Oliver Aalami answered
Vascular Surgery 23 years experience
Don't have to be: It takes a surgical procedure to connect the end if a vein to the side of an artery (create an av fistula). Once created, it will take another surgical procedure to shut the fistula down if need be. Most often they are kept in place even if not used as a back-up system for dialysis access.
6232 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:
What exactly is a fistula?
2 doctor answers • 3 doctors weighed in
Dr. Oliver Aalami answered
Vascular Surgery 23 years experience
Abnormal Connection: An abnormal connection between to organs or vessels. Example: entero-cutaneous fistula- an connection between the bowel and the skin. These are typically caused by diseases of the bowel. Example: arterio-venous fistula- a connection between an artery and a vein. These are created surgically to provide dialysis.
6296 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
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Last updated May 22, 2019
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