A 46-year-old member asked:
what happens if you don't get fistula repaired?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
Dr. Eric Kaplananswered
Colon and Rectal Surgery 42 years experience
Symptoms can get: Worse and an otherwise simple fistula, easy to repair, can develop into a more complex fistula, much more difficult to repair and associated with a poorer success rate. Best to make the time to determine the reason for the fistula, correct that, and if necessary have your fistula repaired before it becomes more problematic.
4.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
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Similar questions
A 21-year-old member asked:
Can anyone of any age get gastrointestinal fistula?
2 doctor answers • 5 doctors weighed in
Dr. Ray Holtanswered
Family Medicine 28 years experience
Yes: Although it would be very rare in children and more common as you get older.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old member asked:
How common is gastrointestinal fistula in the us?
2 doctor answers • 5 doctors weighed in
Dr. Ihor Zakaluznyanswered
General Surgery 38 years experience
Not common: Gastrointestinal fistulae occur most often as complications of diverticulitis, inflammatory bowel disease such as crohn's disease, or after bowel surgeries, .
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
CA
A 24-year-old member asked:
How is a fistula generally treated?
2 doctor answers • 3 doctors weighed in
Dr. Sidney Vinsonanswered
Gastroenterology 27 years experience
Depends on the cause: Fistulae caused by Crohn's disease can be treated with medications such as remcade. Others often require surgery or occasionally can be treated by injection with fibrin glue.
6.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:
Are there any risks involved in fistula surgery?
3 doctor answers • 7 doctors weighed in
Dr. Arthur Helleranswered
Gastroenterology 43 years experience
Sure, it's surgery: Any surgical procedure has inherent risks, including possible infection, bleeding, sedation/medication issues, possible damage to nearby tissues including nerves, etc.
Discuss the details with your surgeon.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 23-year-old member asked:
What is the pathological process that results in fistula development?
2 doctor answers • 3 doctors weighed in
A Verified Doctoranswered
A US doctor answeredLearn more
Trauma/inflammation: Any source of trauma or inflammation can result in the development of a fistula. Appendicitis, crohn's disease, gun shots, stab wounds, surgical complications, diverticulitis-- these are all potential causes. Basically, when trauma or chronic inflammation causes the barrier between 2 spaces within the body to break down, the resulting connection is called a fistula.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
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Last updated Jan 7, 2019
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