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Fistula Information:
Definition:
A channel or tube that connects an organ or natural tube to another surface, either external or internal. 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 intracranial space and a paranasal 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 umbilicus 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 one or more points on 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 organ or structure)
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