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Digestive system organs
Digestive system organs
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Entero-enteral or enterocutaneous fistula

Alternative Names:
Gastrointestinal fistula

Symptoms:
Entero-enteral fistulas may have no symptoms, or depending on the segments of intestine that are connected, they can result in 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 delineates the anatomy of the fistula. If the fistula involves the colon, a contrast enema, where the contrast dye is given via the rectum, may be useful.

A CT scan of the abdomen is usually obtained to determine if an abscess, or 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: 7/23/2002
Reviewed By: Julie A. Miller, M.D., Department of Surgery, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Australia. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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