Thiry's fistula

A f. of the intestine, especially of the small intestine (suggested by Thiry, 1864), for obtaining the intestinal juices unmixed with the other digestive fluids. It is made by opening the abdomen and cutting out a segment of the intestine from 10 to 40 cm. long, leaving its mesenteric vascular and nervous connections intact. The upper or cephalic end of the isolated segment is stitched to the wound in the abdomen so that it will remain open; the other end is closed. The two ends of the intestine from which the segment were cut are sutured together, thus making a continuous alimentary tube again. The intestinal juices flow spontaneously from such a f. and are increased during digestion.