Table of Contents
- Overview
- Symptoms
- Treatment
- Prevention
- Images
A gastrointestinal fistula is an abnormal opening that allows the contents of the stomach or intestines to leak.
- If it leaks through to a part of the intestines, it is called an entero-enteral fistula.
- If it leaks to through to the skin, it is called an enterocutaneous fistula.
Alternative Names
Entero-enteral fistula; Enterocutaneous fistula; Fistula - gastrointestinal
Causes, incidence, and risk factors
Most gastrointestinal fistulas occur after surgery. Other causes include:
- Gastrointestinal obstruction
- Inflammatory processes, such as infection or inflammatory bowel disease (most often Crohn's disease)
- Radiation to the abdomen (most often given as part of cancer treatment)
- Trauma, especially penetrating wounds such as those due to a stabbing or gunshot
Images
Review Date: 05/04/2010
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of
General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington
School of Medicine; George F. Longstreth, MD, Department of
Gastroenterology, Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program, San
Diego, CA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director,
A.D.A.M., Inc.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
