Etymed
fistulotomy
Definition
surgical incision of a fistula to drain pus or other material
Clinical context
A 45-year-old man presents with a painful, fluctuant mass in the perianal region and a history of recurrent abscess formation. Physical examination reveals a visible opening with purulent drainage. The patient has a history of Crohn's disease. Surgical intervention is required to treat this chronic fistula tract. A fistulotomy is performed to create an opening for drainage of the infected material.
Mnemonic
Fistulotomy = FIST for pus drainage