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Gastrointestinal fistula - Symptom

Alternative Names

Entero-enteral fistula; Enterocutaneous fistula; Fistula - gastrointestinal

Symptoms:

Depending on the part of intestine that are connected, gastrointestinal fistulas may cause diarrhea, malabsorption of nutrients, and dehydration.

  • Entero-enteral fistulas may have no symptoms.
  • Enterocutaneous fistulas cause leakage of intestinal contents through an opening in the skin.

Signs and tests:

A gastointestinal fistula can often be identified with a barium swallow test.

If the fistula involves the colon, a barium enema may be needed.

A CT scan of the abdomen is usually done to determine if there is an area of infection (abscess) associated with the fistula.

A fistulogram may also be done. This image test involves injecting contrast dye into the opening of the skin of an enterocutaneous fistula and then taking x-rays.

  • Reviewed last on: 11/17/2008
  • 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.

References

Stenson WF. Inflammatory bowel disease. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007: chap 144.
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