Fistula - can it be caused by a colonoscopy

[Jules123]

Hi,
I'm looking for some advice. My mum recently passed away through organ failure and sepsis that was related to an infection from a colovaginal fistula. She had been in a lot of pain and went for a colonoscopy about 3 months before died. The doctors told her she had diverticular disease. After the colonoscopy her pain got much worse and at the beginning of September she had a scan which was when the fistula was diagnosed. They discharged her with antibiotics but told her she would need an operation. At the beginning of October she was admitted to hospital again as an emergency and she was operated on but even prior to the op her kidneys had started to fail, unfortunately she didn't make it and we have loads of unanswered questions.

My main question is, could something have happened during the colonoscopy - and if they had punctured her colon would the doctor have realised straight away?

Has anyone else had a fistula develop after a colonoscopy?

Thanks
Julie

 

[nogutsnoglory]

I wonder this myself but I think the doctor would know immediately if they ruptured anything and if they just diagnosed that as a fistula instead of being honest, that is a major cover up. I am not sure if a colonoscopy could create a fistula or abscess if everything is clean as expected. Theoretically I would think its possible.

 

[PsychoJane]

I'm sorry for your loss
It is hard for me to tell if it can or cannot form a fistula. I know it is a possibility to have a perforation as this happened to my mother. For her, she started having a high fever, very intense pain and shiver the day following the procedure and she was given some IV antibiotics and then sent home with some more. I don't know if a minimal puncture could behave the same way a fistula does let say. I could imagine so but it is not clear for me.

Diverticulicar disease attacks can be pretty unpredictable and lead to the formation of fistula and peritonitis and so on... would be hard to say

 

[Jules123]

Thanks for your replies. I have read up loads on fistulas and realise that they can occur as part if diverticulitis. I would rather believe this is the case than thinking something went wrong during her colonoscopy. It just seems a coincidence her symptoms got worse after she had it.

 

[Trysha]

The doctors follow the colonoscope very carefully and the withdrawal is very slowly done, since it is at this point other pathologies may show up ., and lead to biopsies being taken.
It is highly likely that the doctor would recognise a puncture and would take steps to repair
it.
So sorry for your loss Jules.

 

[Grumbletum]

I am so sorry for your loss, Jules . I'm not sure either. I thought a
Fistula was a tract which develops over time.

 

[staloffn]

if the fistula was already present at the time she went in for the colonoscopy it can certainly aggrevaite it. this happened to me the last time. i had a fistula that was not being a problem for a long time and became very angry the following days after the colonoscopy. abscessed and would not go away.

 

[1sam]

I had a colonoscopy last November for traces of blood in stool. I was 99% sure it was due to a little constipation or some other simple reason, but my GP suggest to have a colonoscopy to make sure. I was perfectly ok after the procedure and a month and half went without any trouble. By the way colonoscopy results shows that there are no problems at all.
In mid January I felt a little lump near my anus, but not really worry about that until it become sore in a month or two, and initially it was more like a big pimple. As any stubborn men do, I just get on with my life without checking that out, but by May or June it ballooned to a 10-12 mm long 5 mm wide lump. And since then it's opened up and blood and pus start to come out. At that time I thought this may cure after all the pus gone out . But I was wrong. Every 6-8 days it becomes unbearably sore, and then start discharging pus/blood.
At last I see my GP and find out it's a FISTULA, and need surgery. I had my surgery 3 days ago, and still in the process of healing an open wound without any stitches.
My gut feeling is, I may have little perforation, or tear during the colonoscopy and it resulted in a fistula. I am 54 years old never have any problems with constipation, or any bowel condition, and all of a sudden 6-7 weeks after a colonoscopy I had this thing started. If anyone can tell me whether am I RIGHT OR WRONG ???

 

[Bufford]

I get scoped every second year for over 15 years now. One thing I've noticed is that some doctors do not provide enough anesthetic to properly sedate, and it hurt badly when he inserted the camera as my rectal muscles involuntarily contract putting stress and possible damage to the rectum. These scopes would result in inflammation after the procedure.
In my recent colonoscopy I asked the doc for more anesthetic, it really put me out during and after the scope, but I had no issues afterwards.