When the waste management systems crossed paths: a rare case of reno-colic fistula

Abstract

Fistulas involving the kidney and colon are rare, and have their etiologies typically classified as either traumatic or spontaneous in nature. Traumatic reno-colic fistulas are invariably iatrogenic in nature following either open or percutaneous procedures, whilst spontaneous causes primarily arise from primary renal pathology and may include inflammatory or infective processes, malignancy, renal calculi and rupture of hydronephrosis. Unfortunately, clinical manifestations of reno-colic fistulas are often variable and non-diagnostic, however pneumaturia or faecaluria may suggest the presence of such a fistula.3 The purpose of this discussion is to describe the diagnosis of a reno-colic fistula in an 86 year old gentleman.