Small Bowel or Pancreatic Fistula

Small Bowel or Pancreatic Fistula – General Information

Small Bowel or Pancreatic Fistula is a condition that affects the connection between the small intestine and the epithelial surfaces, such as those present in hollow structures, blood vessels and organs. The condition can develop from trauma, as a complication of a certain disease, as a side effect of a severe infection, after an unsuccessful surgical procedure or from a certain inflammatory disease. If Small Bowel or Pancreatic Fistula is not treated properly, it can cause leakage of pus and of certain gastrointestinal content to the outside of the intestine or to the connected organs through small sinuses. The leakage usually manifests without any signs and symptoms leading to severe infections and complications. In most cases, this medical condition requires a surgical approach in addition to antibiotic treatment.

If the patient’s general health status is perfect, the available treatment can cure the disease decreasing the rate of recurrence. In some patients, the condition does not cause any signs and symptoms at all, but some patients can experience diarrhea, malapbsorption and dehydration. Small Bowel or Pancreatic Fistula can be classified as congenital and acquired. If the patient is suffering from the congenital form of the condition, the treatment is usually ineffective leading to the death of that person. On the other side, it can also appear due to certain factors such as trauma, inflammatory bowel disease and neoplasia. It is very important to know that if a patient suffers from colon cancer it is likely for him/her to develop this kind of medical condition.

Small Bowel or Pancreatic Fistula – Symptoms

It is very important to diagnose Small Bowel or Pancreatic Fistula in the first stages of evolution so that the available treatment (usually based on the present signs and symptoms) can be successfully applied. Patients who suffer from this kind of medical condition can experience similar manifestations as in short bowel syndrome, but the difference is that these are more intense and last longer. The development of these manifestations also depends on the medical history of the patient, if he ever had any intestinal reaction, or if he has a history of abdominal or vascular disorders (such as embolus in the upper section of the mesenteric arteries).

The most common signs and symptoms caused by Small Bowel or Pancreatic Fistula can include diarrhea, malabsorption and dehydration. There are cases in which, due to malabsorption, the patient can also experience the following symptoms: significant weight loss, malaise, lethargy and fatigue. Usually, these symptoms are caused by the abnormal connection of the short bowel to the other organs, but they can also be a result of diarrheic diathesis, electrolyte disturbance, protein malnutrition and loss of important minerals and vitamins. The most common signs and symptoms caused by the lack of vitamins in the patient’s body can include blindness, tetany, ataxic gait, and increased bruisability. The Small Bowel or Pancreatic Fistula can cause signs that can help the doctor diagnose other more severe conditions that can worsen the patient’s general health status. It is very important to discover and treat the disease in the first stages, to prevent any complications and to increase the healing rate.

Small Bowel or Pancreatic Fistula – Treatment

Diagnosing Small Bowel or Pancreatic Fistula in the first stages of development is a crucial step in treating it. The best way to accurately diagnose this condition is through the examination of the existent signs and symptoms, or through the applying of other more advanced procedures. The treatment for this kind of condition can be applied differently depending on the patient’s organism and the severity of the disease. If the patient suffers from a weakened immune system, the treatment can be unsuccessful, providing minimal benefits. The major therapy that can provide significant improvement is medication intake. The most common medicines that can be applied to treat Small Bowel or Pancreatic Fistula include Sandostatin and Probiotic. Sandostatin is an artificial protein similar to the hormone produced by the patient’s body called somatostatin. This kind of medicine acts by lowering the amount of certain substances in the patient’s body such as Insulin or glucagons (both substances are involved in controlling the level of sugar in the blood), growth hormone or other chemicals that are involved in digestion. Sandostatin is usually used to treat acromegaly and can be also applied to reduce flushing episodes and watery diarrhea that developed due to other cancerous conditions (tumors known as vasoactive intestinal peptide tumors). It is very important for the doctor to know, before applying any medication therapy, if the patient is suffering from the following conditions: diabetes, kidney problems, thyroid disorder and gallbladder disease. It is also important not to administrate the medicine in combination with Cyclosporine which can be prescribed as Neoral, Sandimmune or Gengraf.

When treating Small Bowel or Pancreatic Fistula, the medication is usually applied through an injection under the skin or directly into the patient’s vein. If the physician allows the patient to apply his or her medication therapy at home, the doctor will teach the individual and some of his or her family members how to adequately administer the medicine. There are cases in which medication therapy can cause certain side effects which can include stomach pain, fever, bloating, nausea, vomiting, and jaundice. Sandstatin is a medicine that can be administrated to pregnant patients, without hurting the unborn baby. If it is used for a prolonged period of time, it can pass into the breast milk. For this reason, pregnant females must not be allowed to follow a therapy with this medical product. Probiotic is an artificial bacterium that acts by maintaining the health of the patient’s intestinal tract, being helpful in digestion. This medicine can also be applied to destroy any harmful organism that can cause Small Bowel or Pancreatic Fistula. The medicine can be prescribed in form of capsules, tablets, beverages, powders, yogurts and so on. It is very important to diagnose and treat Small Bowel or Pancreatic Fistula in the first stages of development to prevent any more severe complications from appearing. For further information, please contact your personal health care provider.