Vesicointestinal Fistula

A vesicointestinal fistula (or intestinovesical fistula) is a form of fistula between the bladder and the bowel.

Types

A fistula involving the bladder can have one of many specific names, describing the specific location of its outlet:

• Bladder and intestine: "vesicoenteric", "enterovesical", or "vesicointestinal"
• Bladder and colon: "vesicocolic" or "colovesical"
• Bladder and rectum: "vesicorectal" or "rectovesical"

Symptoms and signs

If fecal matter passes through the fistula into the bladder, the existence of the fistula may be revealed by pneumaturia or fecaluria.

Causes

Many causes exist including:

• diverticulitis : most common ~ 60%
• colorectal cancer (CRC) : ~ 20%
• Crohn's disease : ~ 10%
• radiotherapy
• appendicitis
• trauma

Diagnosis

Various modalities of diagnosis are available:

• Cystoscopy
• Colonoscopy
• Poppy seed test
• Transabdominal ultrasonography
• Abdominopelvic CT
• MRI
• Barium enema
• Bourne test
• Cystogram

A definite algorithm of tests is followed for making the diagnosis.

See also

• Gouverneur’s syndrome