fistula

noun

fis·​tu·​la ˈfis-chə-lə How to pronounce fistula (audio)
ˈfish-
plural fistulas or fistulae ˈfis-chə-ˌlē How to pronounce fistula (audio)
-ˌlī,
ˈfish-
: an abnormal passage that leads from an abscess or hollow organ or part to the body surface or from one hollow organ or part to another and that may be surgically created to permit passage of fluids or secretions

Examples of fistula in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web But a nasal fistula—a hole between his nose and mouth—made his speech garbled and unintelligible. Dave Eshleman, The Mercury News, 7 Jan. 2024 Some 6 percent of these deaths are from obstetric fistulas, and for each of those deaths, as many as four to five more women will live with an obstetric fistula injury. Ashley Judd, Scientific American, 5 Jan. 2024 At her pre-surgical consult for the fistula this past March, her surgeons were shocked. Usha Lee McFarling, STAT, 28 Sep. 2023 On the list of challenges that most people acknowledge women are facing in the second quintile of the 21st century—from being shut out of corporate boardrooms to untreated fistulas—the inability to play Texas Hold’em does not rank very high, but Just is all in. Time, 24 July 2023 Doctors also joined an artery and a vein in his arm creating a fistula that helped draw blood more easily. Alice Li, Washington Post, 14 June 2023 At the end of November, doctors were finally able to repair the fistula fully in a surgery that went better than expected. Julianne Pepitone, NBC News, 8 May 2021 Doctors determined Anna Moore suffered an arteriovenous fistula (AVF), or an abnormal connection between arteries in the brain, that caused a severe brain bleed. Howard Koplowitz | Hkoplowitz@al.com, al, 16 June 2023 Sitz baths are also sometimes recommended to treat bladder or yeast infections, cancer radiation treatments, anal fissures, perianal fistulas, uterine cramps, inflammatory bowel disease, and to soothe the area after rectal surgery or an episiotomy. Daryl Austin, USA TODAY, 14 June 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fistula.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin, pipe, fistula

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of fistula was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near fistula

Cite this Entry

“Fistula.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fistula. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

fistula

noun
fis·​tu·​la ˈfis-chə-lə How to pronounce fistula (audio)
plural fistulas or fistulae -ˌlē How to pronounce fistula (audio)
-ˌlī
: an abnormal passage leading from an abscess or hollow organ

Medical Definition

fistula

1 of 2 noun
fis·​tu·​la
ˈfis(h)-chə-lə, British also ˈfis-tyu̇-lə
plural fistulas or fistulae
-lē also -lī
1
: an abnormal passage that leads from an abscess or hollow organ or part to the body surface or from one hollow organ or part to another and that may be surgically created to permit passage of fluids or secretions
a congenital tracheoesophageal fistula
an arteriovenous fistula was reconstructed in the right arm for dialysisPasteur Rasuli et al.
2

fistula

2 of 2
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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