A study of colovesical fistulae in a district hospital.
A retrospective study of 32 patients with colovesical fistula was carried out. The most frequent presenting symptoms were urinary; an abdominal mass was found in 40% of patients. Urine culture grew bowel organisms in 93% of patients and the diagnosis was most accurately confirmed by barium enema which showed evidence of a fistula in 55% of patients examined. Surgical treatment varied from staged resection to primary resection and anastomosis, disconnection of the fistulous tract or colostomy alone. The results are compared and suggest a higher success rate with a multi-staged procedure. Different methods of diagnosis are discussed as well as possible causes for varying success rates among the surgical procedures.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003108:Colonic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D004241:Diverticulum, Colon / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007412:Intestinal Fistula / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D001747:Urinary Bladder Fistula / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery