Question:
I have a fistula in my small bowel 11 mos post op.....I need all the info I can get

I had the gastric bypass revision March 25, 2002. I have had a problem with chronic infections in my abdomen that break through the surface and drain constantly. Some openings have happened on their own and some were opened by the surgeon. For nearly 11 months the surgeon has had me use long q-tip swabs and hydrogen peroxide to keep the holes open and draining. For 11 months I've been told it'll clear up on it's own. Early last summer I went to a different surgeon that my gp recommended who cut out one of the pockets of infection. A few months later I went to my gp with what I thought was a possible hernia only to find out it was another huge pocket of infection. I returned to the original surgeon who opened and drained and once again I was told to diligently do the whole q-tip thing at least 4 times a day! After 11 months the surgeon finally had an MRI done today which was inconclusive. I was sent off to radiology to have dye injected and another scan done which revealed the fistula which was caused by a nick in my small inestine when surgery was done. Now I'm facing another surgery at the end of the month to have the fistula taken care of. Has anybody been through this? Do fistulas keep coming back? Is it true what somebody posted or is the surgeon going to be able to take care of this?    — Robert B. (posted on February 11, 2003)

February 11, 2003
I am so sorry you are going through this. Your road has been a long and tiring one. I can't help but feel your surgeon is responsible for this fistula that was caused by the small bowel being nicked during surgery. Because I feel he is responsible, I'm not so sure I'd allow him to operate on me again though. I did a search in Google on "small bowel fistula" just to see what info was out there and found this page by the Bombay Hospital Journal. It's good reading and hope it gives you a little more insight. Good luck to you!<p> http://www.bhj.org/journal/2001_4304_oct/case_590.htm
   — thumpiez

August 28, 2003
My mom has a fistula as a result of GI surgery. I found this web link very informative and hopeful. There's a drug SANDOSTATIN that seems to help. www.nursingceu.com/NCEU/courses/fistula
   — i C.