title: Closure of a benign gastrocolic fistula on medical management.
abstract: Gastrocolic fistulae secondary to un-operated benign gastric ulcers are rare. We report a case of a large benign gastrocolic fistula diagnosed by colonoscopy, which was found to have healed over a short period of 3 weeks, while the patient was being prepared for surgery. He was on parenteral nutrition and intravenous cimetidine. The available literature is reviewed and an attempt is made to explain the closure of the fistula on medical treatment. A trial of medical management may be justified in patients with benign gastrocolic fistulae who are poor surgical risks.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, National University Hospital, Singapore.
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Guan
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chew
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Natarajan
mesh_terms: D002927:Cimetidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003108:Colonic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D003113:Colonoscopy; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005747:Gastric Fistula / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007412:Intestinal Fistula / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010288:Parenteral Nutrition; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D002927:Cimetidine