A fistula (plural: fistulae or fistulas), also known as a fistulous tract, is an abnormal connection between two epithelial surfaces such as between hollow organs, skin or vessels. Conventionally, the name of a specific fistula type is a combination of the two organs. For discussions of specific fistulae please refer to individual articles.
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Terminology
The formation of a fistula may be referred to as fistulation or fistulisation, both terms are equally valid 2.
Pathology
Etiology
A wide variety of etiologies are implicated:
congenital
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acquired
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surgical
sometimes the fistula creation is deliberate, e.g. mucous fistula, arteriovenous fistula for dialysis
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post inflammatory e.g. Crohn disease, pancreatitis, diverticulitis
infection
post-traumatic
secondary to a foreign body
malignancy
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Types
Various types of fistula have been described, please keep these lists in alphabetical order:
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GIT
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vascular
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breast
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urogenital
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pulmonary
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cardiac
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head and neck
History and etymology
From the Latin, fistula means tube or pipe 1.
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