[Entero-urinary fistula. A study of 22 cases]

We performed a retrospective study on 22 patients with entero-urinary fistulas that had been diagnosed and treated at the Hospital Clinico i Provincial in Barcelona during the period spanning 1981-1988. Fistulas were classified according to the organs or parts with which they communicated. Among the important etiogenic conditions were diverticular disease of colon. Crohn's disease, actinic lesions, trauma and xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis. The clinical manifestations were principally urological in the form of recurrent urinary infection and terminal pneumaturia. The most useful diagnostic techniques were cystoscopy; serial voiding cystourethrography (SVCU), retrograde urethrography and pyelography. Treatment was by surgery in all cases. Diversion procedures or surgical excision of the fistulous tract were performed as warranted by each case. The etiopathogenic, morphological and therapeutical aspects of vesico-enteric fistulas are discussed.