The Brain and Spine Institute is made up of experts in the field of neuroscience in order to bring patients the best healthcare in East Tennessee for a full range of neurological diseases and disorders.
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We provide a comprehensive continuum of cancer services, including prevention, outreach, diagnostic, treatment and support services delivered by our highly skilled staff with compassion and care.
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The Center for Women & Children's Health is a hub for supporting women's and children's individual healthcare needs. The center provides support, research and unmatched patient-centered care.
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Emergency and Trauma Services is the only Level I Trauma Center in the area and serves as the tertiary referral center for medical care in East Tennessee, serving Knox County and 21 surrounding counties.
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The Heart Lung Vascular Institute brings together expertise in clinical care, teaching and research. Patients receive exceptional healthcare combined with patient-centered care.
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Fistula
Definition
A fistula is an abnormal connection between an organ, vessel, or intestine and another structure. Fistulas are usually the result of injury or surgery. It can also result from infection or inflammation.
Inflammatory bowel disease, such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease, is an example of a disease that leads to fistulas between one loop of intestine and another. Injury can lead to fistulas between arteries and veins.
Information
Fistulas may occur in many parts of the body. Some of these are:
- Arteriovenous (between an artery and vein)
- Biliary (created during gallbladder surgery, connecting bile ducts to the surface of the skin)
- Cervical (either an abnormal opening into the cervix or in the neck)
- Craniosinus (between the space inside the skull and a nasal sinus)
- Enterovaginal (between the bowel and vagina)
- Fecal or anal (the feces is discharged through an opening other than the anus)
- Gastric (from the stomach to the surface of the skin)
- Metroperitoneal (between the uterus and peritoneal cavity)
- Pulmonary arteriovenous (in a lung, the pulmonary artery and vein are connected, allowing the blood to bypass the oxygenation process in the lung (pulmonary arteriovenous fistula )
- Umbilical (connection between the navel and gut)
Types of fistulas include:
- Blind (open on one end only, but connects to two structures)
- Complete (has both external and internal openings)
- Horseshoe (connecting 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)
References
Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ, eds. Sleisenger & Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2006.
Townsend CM, Beauchamp RD, Evers BM, Mattox KL, Sabiston Textbook of Surgery, 17th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2006.
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