#Excess fluid in abdomen after surgery skin

High-output fistulae drain more than 500 milliliters (mL) of gastric fluid a day. Treatment for a gastrointestinal fistula depends on its severity and location.įistulae that are small and not infected will often close on their own.įistulae in the colon can take 30–40 days to close while fistulae in the small intestine are likely to take 40–50 days.ĭoctors also define fistulae as high- or low-output. This should reveal any blockages in the fistula.

#Excess fluid in abdomen after surgery skin

Fistulogram, a diagnostic test that involves injecting dye into the area of the gastrointestinal fistula where the skin is open and leaking.If the barium reveals signs of leaking in the intestines, this will confirm the fistula’s presence. Barium studies, in which the doctor will administer barium to the individual orally or by enema before taking an X-ray.This is essential so that surgeons can decide where to place drains and operate. Imaging scans, such as a CT scan, to identify the fistula and determine its size.If the doctor suspects a gastrointestinal fistula, they will order medical tests to confirm the diagnosis. The doctor will also ask about the person’s symptoms, including when they presented and whether anything relieves or worsens them. If a person has had specific surgical procedures, including gynecologic surgery, they have a higher risk of getting a fistula. Share on Pinterest Barium imagining techniques can highlight the presence of a fistula.Ī doctor will consider a person’s medical history when diagnosing a gastrointestinal fistula. This means that acid and other contents from the stomach will leak onto the skin through the wound opening. Intestinal: This fistula involves the connection of one area of the intestine to another.Ī person with an external gastrointestinal fistula will have an area of skin that is open.

Extraintestinal: This fistula connects part of the intestine to another organ in the body, such as the bladder.External: An external fistula is one that connects a portion of the gastrointestinal tract to the skin.

Complex: This type of fistula has multiple channels that affect more than one organ.

In some cases, it can even be fatal.ĭoctors classify fistulae into four main categories, which may cause different symptoms:

Sepsis causes a range of symptoms, such as low blood pressure, high fever, high heart rate, and organ failure. This is where a person’s body attacks itself as a reaction to a severe infection. Symptoms can include:Ī person with a gastrointestinal fistula can become very ill and may develop a condition known as sepsis. The fistula also causes fluid to leak out, reducing levels throughout the body. When a person has a gastrointestinal fistula, digested food material cannot move properly through the body.