What is urinary fistula?
A urinary fistula is an abnormal opening either within a urinary tract organ (such as the bladder) or an abnormal connection between a urinary tract organ and another organ (such as the colon). There are several types of urinary fistulas. They are: • vesicovaginal fistula – fistula between the urinary tract and the vagina. The term (vesico) refers to the urinary bladder. It is the most common type of urinary tract fistula. • vesicouterine fistula – fistula between the bladder and the uterus. • urethrovaginal fistula – fistula between the urethra and the vagina. The urethra is the tube that empties urine from the bladder. • ureterovaginal fistula – fistula between the ureter and the vagina. The ureter is the tube that carries urine from the kidney to the bladder. • colovesical fistula – fistula between the colon (bowel) and the bladder. • rectovaginal fistula – fistula between the rectum and the vagina. What causes urinary fistula? Fistulas are most often caused by injury to the organs
