Experience in postoperative enterocutaneous fistula

ABSTRACT

This study included 16 cases of postoperative enterocutaneous fistulae managed at kasr El-Aini Hospital in the period from 1987 to 1989. Of the 16 cases 2 were jejunal 6 ilial and 8 colonic fistulae. 6 were of the high output variety and 10 of the low output variety. Conservative treatment was the sole line of management in 9 cases, 8 of them were of the low output variety and 1 was a high output fistula. Spontaneous closure occurred after 18-40 days with an average of 29 days. Immediate surgery [48 hours] was carried out in 1 case of high output jejunal fistulae. Early surgery [before 6 weeks] was carried out in 3 cases. Delayed surgery [after 6 weeks] was carried out in 3 cases. In this limited series we had a cure rate of 87.5% and a mortality rate of 12.5%. In this work we have applied a practical conservative approach using the medical measures available. Special emphasis was given to the role of surgery especially as regards the timing and desirability of surgical intervention