title: Intestinal fistula complicating necrotizing pancreatitis.
abstract: Eight of 17 patients with necrotizing pancreatitis (47 percent) developed 12 intestinal fistulas. Pancreatitis occurred most often secondary to alcohol abuse, and fistula complicated controlled open drainage of the lesser sac more often than sump or Penrose drainage of the lesser sac. Fistulas appeared more often in patients with two or more drainage operations than in those with a single drainage procedure. Most duodenal fistulas closed with nonoperative therapy, whereas jejunal and colonic fistulas required operative closure. Operative techniques included both simple suture closure and resection with anastomosis. Five patients (29 percent) died. Thus, although frequent debridement and controlled open drainage may reduce the mortality rate of necrotizing pancreatitis, it appears to increase the likelihood of intestinal fistulas, which may require operative treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque 87131.
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Doberneck
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003646:Debridement / Q000009:adverse effects; D004322:Drainage / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007412:Intestinal Fistula / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009336:Necrosis; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012086:Reoperation