Anal Fistula: Symptoms and Treatment
An anal fistula is a passageway that develops between the anus and the skin. This usually develops because of an anal infection.
Symptoms of anal fistulas include fever, bleeding from the anus or skin where the fistula has occurred, constipation, pain with stool passing, and swelling of the skin around the anus. Surgery is the only treatment that will close the anal fistula.
Vaginal Fistula: Symptoms and Treatment
A vaginal fistula is a passageway that develops between the vagina and other organs in the pelvis. Vaginal fistulas can be caused by having children, Crohn's disease, previous surgeries, or cancer. There are several types of vaginal fistulas, including:
- Ureterovaginal fistula - which develop between the vagina and ureters
- Urethrovaginal fistula - which develop between the vagina and urethra
- Colovaginal fistulas - which develop between the vagina and the colon
- Enterovaginal fistula - which develop between the vagina and small intestines
- Rectovaginal fistula - which develop between the vagina and rectum
- Vesicovaginal fistula - which develop between the vagina and bladder
Symptoms of vaginal fistulas can be hard to understand, but it really happens. It is important to be sympathetic with patients that have any or all of these conditions. Patients that have fistulas that occur between the vagina and colon, small intestines, or rectum will notice that they are passing gas and stool out of their vagina. Patients that have fistulas that occur between the vagina and ureters, urethra or bladder will notice that they are passing urine out of their vagina. Patients with vagina fistulas will also notice foul smells and vaginal soreness.
It is rare, but some vaginal fistulas can heal on their own. Most of the time the only way to treat any of the vaginal fistulas is with surgery.
Arteriovenous Fistula: Symptoms and Treatment
An arteriovenous fistula (AV fistula) is a passageway between an artery and vein. This fistula bypasses the capillaries, which normally join the arteries and veins together. This kind of fistula can develop randomly in the body or can be surgically created for patients who have kidney disease or require long-term dialysis.
Arteriovenous fistulas can occur anywhere in the body, but will all have the same symptoms. These include fatigue, swelling in the area of the fistula, lower blood pressure and bulging veins that look almost like varicose veins. If the fistula occurs in the lungs this poses a big problem and will have symptoms that include bluing of the skin and difficulty breathing.
If a patient is found to have a small AV fistula and it is not causing problems, then there will be no treatment. The patient will monitor their symptoms at home and will have doctors' visits to monitor and track their symptoms. Some AV fistulas will even close on their own. Patients that have an AV fistula in their lungs or have a large AV fistula will require surgery to correct the problem.