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Entero-enteral or enterocutaneous fistula

• Overview
• Symptoms
• Treatment

Alternative Names:

Gastrointestinal fistula

Symptoms:

Entero-enteral fistulas may have no symptoms. Depending on the segments of intestine that are connected, fistulas may cause diarrhea , malabsorption of nutrients, and dehydration . Enterocutaneous fistulas cause leakage of intestinal contents through an opening in the skin.

Signs and tests:

A contrast swallow study, in which a radio-opaque dye is swallowed by the patient and x-rays taken, often shows the anatomy of the fistula. If the fistula involves the colon, a contrast enema (contrast dye given through the rectum) may be useful.

A CT scan of the abdomen is usually obtained to determine if an abscess -- a walled-off pocket of infection -- is associated with the fistula.

A "fistulogram," in which radio-opaque dye is injected into the opening of the skin of an enterocutaneous fistula and x-rays taken, is often performed as well.

• Review Date: 7/14/2006
• Reviewed By: J.A. Lee, M.D., Division of Surgery, UCSF, San Francisco, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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