Enterocutaneous fistula; Management Challenges,Areterospective Review of 11 Patients Treated in our Institute

Abstract

Enterocutaneous fistula is a local pathology and systemic disorder. OBJECTIVES: To analyze postoperative outcomes, morbidity, and mortality in patients treated for enterocutaneous fistula in our institute for past 18 months. DESIGN, SETINGS AND PATIENTS: Reterospective review of records of patients presented to Liaquat national university hospital Karachi, Pakistan between Jan 2010 to June 2011 with diagnosis of EC fistula. RESULTS: A total of eleven patients presented with diagnosis of enterocutaneous fistula in our institute in specified duration. Mean age at presentation was 33 years with amle to female ratio of 3:1.72.7 % had high output fistula and 27.2 % had low output fistula. Small bowel was involved in 72.7%, large bowel in 18.18% and 9.0% had both small and large bowel fistula.45.45% patients had single fistula while 54.55 had multiple fistula. Total length of stay varied between 22-150 days .6/11 (54.54%) had nosocomial infection, 3/11(27.27%) had bed sores.2/11(18.18%) had TPN related complications.Spontaneous closure occurred in 8/11(72.77) patients and definitive surgical closure was performed in one patient. Mortality rate was 18.8 %. CONCLUSION: Enterocutaneous fistula is a devastating outcome for both surgeons and patients, sytemetic timely multidisciplinary approach can save lives.