Enterovesical Fistula

Excerpt

A fistula is an abnormal connection between two epithelial surfaces. There are some exceptions of this definition, like when the surfaces are not epithelial as in the endothelial surfaces of vascular fistulae or in the connection of gastrointestinal (GI) mucosa to a wound where no epithelial surface is included. An enterovesical fistula is an abnormal communication between the intestine and the bladder. The organ of origin of the fistula is usually stated first. Therefore, with enterovesical fistula, the fistula usually begins from the intestine and ends to the bladder. However, the fistulization process could begin from the bladder wall and end in the intestine or other luminal structures. Most of the known and clinically encountered fistulae originate from the bowel.

The term bowel is generally used to indicate the small intestine. It is interchangeably used in the literature to refer to all intestinal (small and large) fistulas with the urinary bladder. More specific terms are also used, including jejunovesical, ileo vesical, colovesical, sigmoid vesical, or rectovesical fistulae, to indicate the specific part of the intestine involved in the fistulae. Since colovesical fistula is by far the most common fistula between the intestine and the bladder, most of the content of this article will apply on colovesical fistula unless it is otherwise indicated.