Treatment is step by step: control infection, correct fluids and salts, build up nutrition, protect the skin, and study the fistula. Many fistulas close without another operation. Those that do not close may need planned surgery once the patient is stronger, usually after several months.
Tirtham Surgical Hospital, Science City Road, Sola, Ahmedabad, provides assessment and treatment of faecal fistula, including wound and skin care, nutrition support and surgery when needed. This page explains what a faecal fistula is, causes, treatment, recovery and risks.
What Is a Faecal Fistula?
A fistula is an abnormal connection between two surfaces. In a faecal fistula, the opening is in the small intestine or colon, and the channel reaches the skin of the abdomen. The fluid that leaks out may be thin and green (from the small intestine) or look like stool (from the colon). The fluid contains digestive juices, which irritate and break down the skin around the opening.
| Output (fluid leaking in 24 hours) | Description |
| Less than 200 ml | Low-output fistula |
| 200–500 ml | Moderate-output fistula |
| More than 500 ml | High-output fistula; greater risk of dehydration and salt imbalance |
Faecal Fistula and Anal Fistula Are Different
| Feature | Faecal (enterocutaneous) fistula | Anal fistula (fistula-in-ano) |
| Connects | The intestine to the skin of the abdomen | The anal canal to the skin near the anus |
| Usual cause | A complication of abdominal surgery; sometimes Crohn's disease, tuberculosis, cancer, radiation or injury | An anal abscess that did not heal fully |
| Main problems | Fluid and salt loss, poor nutrition, infection, skin damage | Discharge, pain and repeated abscesses near the anus |
Related page: Anal fistula
Causes
| Cause | Notes |
| After abdominal surgery | The most common cause — a leak from a bowel join (anastomotic leak) or an unnoticed injury to the bowel |
| Crohn's disease | Inflammation of the bowel that can form fistulas without surgery |
| Intestinal tuberculosis | An important cause in India |
| Cancer | A tumour growing through the bowel wall |
| Radiation | Damage to the bowel after radiotherapy |
| Injury or perforation | Abdominal injury, or a perforation that was not fully controlled |
| Infection | Appendicitis or diverticulitis with an abscess that drains through the skin |
Related pages: Intestinal perforation · Reoperative abdominal surgery
Why a Faecal Fistula Is Serious
- Loss of fluid and salts: a high-output fistula can quickly cause dehydration, kidney problems and imbalance of sodium, potassium and magnesium
- Poor nutrition: loss of bowel contents and reduced absorption cause weight loss and weakness, and slow the healing of the fistula
- Infection (sepsis): leaked bowel contents can collect inside the abdomen as an abscess; uncontrolled infection is the main cause of serious illness
- Skin damage: digestive juices burn the skin around the opening, causing pain and making wound care difficult
Faecal Fistula Treatment in Ahmedabad: Step by Step
Treatment follows a structured, step-by-step plan, often summarised by the letters SNAP.
| Step | What it involves |
| S — Sepsis control and skin care | Finding and draining any abscess, often with a needle or tube placed under ultrasound or CT guidance; antibiotics when needed; protecting the skin with barrier creams and collecting the fluid in a stoma-type bag |
| N — Nutrition | Feeding by mouth or through a feeding tube when the bowel can be used; feeding through a vein (parenteral nutrition) when it cannot |
| A — Anatomy | Studying the fistula with a fistulogram (contrast X-ray through the opening) or CT scan to see where it starts and whether there is a blockage further down |
| P — Plan or procedure | Deciding whether to continue non-surgical treatment while the fistula closes, or to plan surgery |
Fluids and salts are replaced and checked with regular blood tests. Medicines may be used to reduce the amount of fluid leaking. A faecal fistula surgery doctor in Ahmedabad coordinates this care with nurses, dietitians and, when needed, radiologists.
Many Fistulas Close Without Surgery
Once infection is controlled and nutrition is good, many fistulas — especially low-output ones — close on their own, usually over several weeks. Closure is less likely when there is:
- A blockage of the bowel further down
- Ongoing infection or an abscess
- Crohn's disease, tuberculosis or cancer in the bowel
- Damage from radiation
- A foreign body, such as mesh, near the fistula
- A very short channel, or the bowel lining growing out onto the skin
When Faecal Fistula Surgery Is Needed
Surgery is advised when a fistula does not close with non-surgical treatment, or when it has a feature that prevents closure. Except to drain infection or in an emergency, surgery is usually delayed for several months — often three to six months or longer — until infection has cleared, nutrition has improved and the abdomen has softened. Operating too early, when the abdomen is inflamed, is more difficult and carries higher risk.
In the operation, the part of the bowel carrying the fistula is removed and the healthy ends are joined (resection and anastomosis). The abdominal wall is then closed or repaired. A faecal fistula surgeon in Ahmedabad explains the plan, timing and risks in detail.
Recovery From a Faecal Fistula
Recovery from a faecal fistula usually takes weeks to months, whether the fistula closes on its own or after surgery. It involves nutrition support, careful skin and wound care, treatment of the underlying cause, and regular follow-up. Living with a leaking wound is also emotionally hard; support from family, the care team and counselling when needed is part of recovery.
When to Contact the Hospital
- Fever or chills
- A sudden increase in the fluid leaking from the fistula
- Increasing abdominal pain or swelling
- Dizziness, extreme thirst, cramps or passing very little urine (signs of dehydration)
- Red, raw or broken skin around the opening
Risks and Possible Complications
A faecal fistula itself can cause dehydration, malnutrition, infection and skin damage. Treatment also carries risks. The doctor explains them before taking consent.
- Fistula coming back after surgery
- Leak from the new bowel join
- Bleeding and wound infection
- Abscess inside the abdomen, needing drainage
- Problems with feeding tubes or lines in a vein, including line infection
- Short bowel problems if a long length of bowel has to be removed
- Hernia at the incision (incisional hernia)
- Blood clots in the legs or lungs
- Anaesthesia-related risks
- Risk to life in severe infection
Faecal Fistula Treatment Cost in Ahmedabad
The cost depends on the output of the fistula, the need for drainage procedures, feeding through a tube or a vein, the length of hospital stay, room category, intensive care, and whether surgery is needed later. Treatment often continues over several weeks or months. A written estimate can be requested from the hospital.
Insurance
- Mediclaim and cashless facility is available, subject to the patient's policy terms and insurer approval
- Assistance is provided with documents required for reimbursement claims
Faecal Fistula Surgery Doctor in Ahmedabad
Faecal fistula care usually runs over weeks or months, so it helps to ask your faecal fistula surgery doctor in Ahmedabad clear questions at the start. The answers help you and your family understand each stage of the plan and give informed consent.
- What caused the fistula, and is there a blockage, an abscess or another condition that could stop it from closing?
- Is it a low-, moderate- or high-output fistula, and how will fluids and salts be replaced and checked?
- How will I be fed — by mouth, through a tube or through a vein — and where will this be given?
- Which tests, such as a CT scan or fistulogram, are needed to study the fistula?
- How long might it take to close without surgery, and when would an operation be considered?
- If surgery is needed, which part of the bowel will be removed, and how will the abdominal wall be closed?
- What are the main risks in my case, including the chance of the fistula coming back?
- Which services are available on site, which are arranged at another centre, and what does the estimate include?
Faecal Fistula Surgeon in Ahmedabad
A faecal fistula is managed by a qualified surgeon, usually one with a postgraduate degree in general surgery (MS or DNB), working with nurses, dietitians and radiologists. When choosing a faecal fistula surgeon in Ahmedabad, these points are worth checking:
| What to check | Why it matters | How to check |
| A postgraduate qualification in surgery | Fistula care and bowel surgery are managed by a surgeon | Ask the hospital, or look at the qualifications listed for the doctor |
| Registration with a medical council | Every practising doctor in India must be registered | Search the Gujarat Medical Council register or the National Medical Register |
| Bowel and abdominal wall surgery | Closing a fistula usually means removing part of the bowel, joining the ends and repairing the abdominal wall | Ask whether bowel resection and abdominal wall repair are routinely performed at the hospital |
| A clear plan for the timing of surgery | Operating too early, when the abdomen is inflamed, is more difficult and carries higher risk | Ask when surgery would be considered and what needs to improve first |
| Arrangements for supportive care | Drainage, nutrition, skin care and salt balance are needed alongside surgery | Ask how image-guided drainage, tube or vein feeding and wound care are arranged |
| Availability in emergencies | Infection or dehydration can become serious quickly | Ask whether an emergency operating team is available round the clock |
| A clear explanation of options and risks | It supports an informed decision | The surgeon should explain the options, the expected timeline and the risks of surgery |
Treating Surgeon
At Tirtham Surgical Hospital, faecal fistula treatment in Ahmedabad is performed by:
| Detail | Information |
| Name | Dr. Alpesh Patel |
| Qualification | MBBS, MS (Civil Hospital, Surat) |
| Specialty | General & Laparoscopic Surgery |
| Designation | Founder, Tirtham Surgical Hospital |
| Registration status | Registered Medical Practitioner |
| Registration number | Gujarat Medical Council Reg. No. G14657 |
| OPD availability | On appointment, Mon–Sat |
| Emergency surgical services | 24-hour emergency operating team at Tirtham Surgical Hospital |
Facilities at Tirtham Surgical Hospital
- 24-hour emergency operating team
- Laparoscopic and endoscopic setup
- Mediclaim and cashless facility, subject to policy terms
- 6 themed recovery rooms
- Large parking facility
Frequently asked questions
When should I see a faecal fistula surgery doctor in Ahmedabad?+
What is the difference between a faecal fistula and an anal fistula?+
Can a faecal fistula heal without surgery?+
Why is surgery usually delayed?+
How long does recovery take?+
What facilities should a faecal fistula hospital in Ahmedabad have?+
What decides the cost of treatment?+
Is treatment covered by health insurance?+
Contact and Location
Tirtham Surgical Hospital
3rd Floor, Silver Radiance 2, 312-315, Science City Road, Sola, Ahmedabad, Gujarat 380060
- Call:
- +91-9428736360
- WhatsApp:
- +91-9428736360
- Landline:
- 079-27436360 | 079-40036360
- Tirtham SurgiMitra (second-opinion line):
- +91-9974416665
- Email:
- info@tirthamhospital.com
- Get Directions:
- Science City Road, Sola, Ahmedabad
- Emergency:
- 24-hour emergency operating team
- OPD timings:
- On appointment, Mon–Sat
Next step
Plan your procedure
Share your reports on WhatsApp for a guided opinion, or visit us on Science City Road for an in-person examination.
