Mucous fistula – definition

  • Mucous fistula is a type of abdominal stoma. (Abdominal stoma is an artificial opening created in the abdominal wall as an alternate path for feces or urine to reach outside the body.)
  • When immediate anastomosis of bowel is not possible after resection, the proximal bowel is brought out as a stoma (eg: ileostomy, colostomy etc)
  • But in certain cases, the distal non functioning part of bowel is also brought out through a stoma
  • Such a stoma is known as a mucous fistula
  • It appears small, flat and pinkish red
  • It discharges only mucus – no fecal matter