Why does fistula happen

When the pus drains away, it can leave a small channel behind. Surgery is recommended in most cases. Symptoms of an anal fistula Symptoms of an anal fistula can include: skin irritation around the anus a constant, throbbing pain that may be worse when you sit down, move around, poo or cough smelly discharge from near your anus passing pus or blood when you poo swelling and redness around your anus and a high temperature fever if you also have an abscess difficulty controlling bowel movements bowel incontinence in some cases The end of the fistula might be visible as a hole in the skin near your anus, although this may be difficult for you to see yourself.

When to get medical advice See a GP if you have persistent symptoms of an anal fistula. These may include: a further physical and rectal examination a proctoscopy, where a special telescope with a light on the end is used to look inside your anus an ultrasound scan , MRI scan or CT scan Causes of anal fistulas Most anal fistulas develop after an anal abscess.

It depends of course on where in the bowel the fistula is. HPN tends to happen more with a fistula that is high up in the bowel, this usually means the fistula output is high as much as several litres per day.

Most goes out through the ileostomy which is great news but some comes out of the fistula and whilst this connection remains it will never heal spontaneously. If the cause of the fistula is found to be inflammatory bowel disease then sometimes medication can be given which will heal the gut and maybe the fistula.

It is likely you will have to remain on these drugs for some time to control the underlying disease which may in turn keep the fistula closed.

Sometimes no definite cause can be found for the fistula and the patient may not be suitable for surgical repair. In these cases the patient will have to manage the fistula. This can prove to be very challenging, as it is likely the patient will need to wear a stoma bag over the fistula along with dealing with the daily problems a fistula can bring.

A fistula is essentially a tube which our brilliant bodies make to keep us alive. Fistulae are described as a surgical catastrophe. They are most certainly a very difficult complication which can be extremely challenging for the medical profession to deal with. However, the main challenges will have to be met by the patient — in my case, I have found it to be life changing. To go in for an operation in reasonable health and come out with a fistula is devastating.

I had had a stoma bag for some 33 years previous to this and had managed it well, working full time and leading a normal life. I never even needed a stoma nurse. Editorial team. Fistulas may occur in many parts of the body. They can form between: An artery and vein Bile ducts and the surface of the skin from gallbladder surgery The cervix and vagina The neck and throat The space inside the skull and nasal sinus The bowel and vagina The colon and surface of the body, causing feces to exit through an opening other than the anus The stomach and surface of the skin The uterus and peritoneal cavity the space between the walls of the abdomen and internal organs An artery and vein in the lungs results in blood not picking up enough oxygen in the lungs The navel and gut Inflammatory bowel disease, such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn disease, can lead to fistulas between one loop of intestine and another.

Types of fistulas include: Blind open on one end only, but connects to two structures Complete has openings both outside and inside the body Horseshoe connects 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.

Anorectal fistulas Fistula. Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references deBeche-Adams TH, et al. Rectovaginal fistulas. Clinics in Colon and Rectal Surgery. Champagne BJ, et al. Rectovaginal fistula. The Surgical Clinics of North America. Tintinalli JE, et al. Anorectal disorders. New York, N. Accessed Nov. Browning A, et al.