Examples of surgical anastomoses are colostomy (an opening created between the bowel and the abdominal skin) and arterio-venous fistula (an opening created between an artery and vein) for hemodialysis.
A pathological anastomosis can result from trauma or disease and may involve veins, arteries, or intestines. These are usually referred to as fistulas. In the cases of veins or arteries, traumatic fistulas usually occur between artery and vein. Traumatic intestinal fistulas usually occur between two loops of intestine (enetero-enteric fistula) or intestine and skin (enterocutaneous fistula).
An important neurovascular anastomosis is the Circle of Willis.