Bladder fistulas are abnormal connections between the bladder and other organs or the skin, causing urine leakage and possible infection. They can be caused by injury, disease, or radiation and are usually treated with surgery.
A bladder fistula is a patchy connection that exists between a person’s bladder and another organ in their body or the outside of their body. These connections, often called tunnels, allow urine to flow to other parts of the body and even to the surface of a person’s skin. In some cases, bladder fistulas also form between the anus and the bladder, allowing fecal matter to enter the affected person’s urine. Bladder fistulas can often be treated successfully.
There are various types of fistulas that can affect the human body. Essentially, fistulas are just abnormal openings that lead from one organ to another or from an organ outside the body. The most common types of bladder fistulas are those that form abnormal connections between the bladder and anus or the bladder and vagina. Bladder fistulas that lead to the skin also develop, although they may be less common than the other types.
One of the symptoms of a bladder fistula is acute urine leakage which does not appear to be related to any other type of condition. A person with this condition may also notice frequent development of urinary tract infections, have gas leaking from the urethra when urinating, or feel urine coming out of the vagina instead of coming from the urethra. In some cases, a person with this condition may also notice urine on the surface of their skin or feces in their urine. Additionally, a person who has a bladder fistula may develop a fever, notice skin irritation, or experience discomfort related to the condition.
There are many factors that can lead to the development of bladder fistulas. One of them is the injury that occurs during surgical treatment of the urinary system or the reproductive system. Sometimes, people develop fistulas as a complication of inflammatory bowel disease, and some develop them as a complication of bowel cancer. An individual may also develop a bladder fistula after receiving radiation therapy.
Treatment for a bladder fistula usually involves surgery, although any abscesses or infections that the patient has may need to be treated before moving to surgical treatment. Once such conditions have been treated, surgeons usually aim to repair the abnormal holes in the patient’s organs and can use healthy tissue to create a new barrier between the bladder and other affected body structures. If cancerous tissue is present, surgeons may also remove that tissue as part of the surgery.
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