What is a bladder fistula?
Fistula is a pathological opening, tube, which is formed between two empty spaces of the body. A bladder fistula occurs between the bladder and another organ or skin. In a large percentage of clinical cases, it occurs between the bladder and the intestine or between the bladder and the vagina.
Possible causes:
- Bladder damage;
- Intestinal cancer;
- Gynecological cancer;
- Previous radiation therapy;
- Inflammatory disease in the anamnesis;
- Bowel or bladder surgery.
The following symptoms are characteristic:
- During urination, gases are released from the urethra;
- History of chronic, recurrent urinary tract infections;
- Urine looks like feces;
- Urine has the smell of feces.
For diagnosis, the doctor will study the patient's medical history, get acquainted with the symptoms. The urologist prescribes a computed tomography scan in order to properly study the bladder and nearby structures.
During the diagnosis of bladder fistula, in a large percentage of clinical cases, a surgical procedure is required, the purpose of which is to remove the damaged part of the tissue from the bladder.
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