Role of deliberate creation of control enterocutaneous fistula in patients of abdominal tuberculosis with perforation of small bowel and matted small intestine

ABSTRACT

To study the results after forming the controlled enterocutaneous fistula in the patient of abdominal tuberculosis with matted and perforated small bowel. Design, place and duration of study This study based on therapeutic trial and conducted in one and half years from january1999 to june2001 at Mayo Hospital, Lahore. All these 20 patients either operated in emergency or on elective list were malnourished, toxic and their operative findings were almost the same, these patients had extensively matted, friable and perforated gut. In these patients it was technically not possible to perform some definite procedure like right haemecolectomy or ileostomy with out increasing the morbidity or mortality. Under these circumstances, minimal surgical procedure which can be life saving is to oppose the anterior abdominal wall to the perforation and thus create a controlled enterocutaneous fistula. In 11 patients fistula closed on its own and in eight patients fistula remained patient and needed re-exploration and repair. This new method of treatment has yielded excellent results. We were able to cure the disease with no mortality. It is recommended that in cases of TB peritonitis with perforation and matted gut making of a controlled enterocutaneous fistula saves the life of the patient