Can a fistula heal by itself?
Fistulas usually cannot heal on their own. However, surgery is not necessarily required in the presence of a fistula. Depending on the doctor’s diagnosis, it may be possible to wait. The so-called suture drainage is a good alternative to surgery. In the case of anal fistulas, for example, silicone sutures are inserted into the fistula duct, allowing the fluid in the duct to drain off and dry out the fistula.
How are fistulas operated on?
There are various surgical options, which are used depending on the localization, the organs involved and the cause. In fistulotomy, the fistula is either split lengthwise or peeled out, then exposed and finally cleaned. Through the subsequent open wound healing, the fistula ultimately heals.
However, the focus of infection should also be treated, otherwise a fistula tract may form again. Furthermore, silicone threads can be placed in the fistula tract, which is what is meant by a thread drainage. This allows the fluids that have accumulated in the fistula to drain off, thus healing the fistula tract.
This method is often used in the chronic inflammatory bowel disease Crohn’s disease. It can be used to combat recurrent fistula tracts. As an alternative, the fistula tract can also be cleaned first and then removed sparingly. This method is called fistullectomy.
Abscess vs. fistula – What is the difference?
An abscess is caused by an accumulation of bacteria in the affected tissue. This results in an encapsulated cavity filled with pus at this site. This so-called focus of inflammation (site of inflammation) can now lead to the formation of a hollow tube from the site of the abscess to the surface of the body, so that the accumulated pus can flow away.
This is called fistula or fistula duct. Thus, an abscess can lead to the formation of a fistula. However, the causes of fistula formation are not limited to abscesses.
The tubular connection between hollow organs or between a hollow organ and the body surface can also be congenital, as is the case with gill palate fistulas, for example. Furthermore, a fistula can also be artificially created by the physician, e.g. the AV fistula in the course of dialysis treatment.
