title: Gastrostomy tube insertion into intestinal-cutaneous tract fistulas is a new technique to improve fistula control.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The management of gastrointestinal-cutaneous fistulas may be complicated by the difficulty in obtaining adequate control of the fistula tract. This study describes a new method to obtain better fistula control utilizing a semi-rigid stent in the form of a gastrostomy tube.
  
  
  METHODS
  Consecutive patients with intestinal-cutaneous fistulas of at least 3 weeks duration and treated by the new technique were analyzed. The technique involved the insertion of a guide wire into the fistula tract from the luminal side using an endoscope, snaring the wire with a Dormia basket inserted into the fistula tract from the cutaneous side and then exteriorized. The gastrostomy tube was then pulled with the guide wire from the lumen along the fistula tract and out through the skin.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five patients had had fistulas for a median duration of 42 (range 26-140) days before insertion of the gastrostomy tube. The gastrostomy tube was replaced with a smaller diameter tube in 4 of the patients (range 1-3 changes). The patients were discharged from the hospital at a median of 14 (range 12-23) days after the tube insertion but with the tube in situ. The median time from the insertion of the tube to its removal was 42 (range 32-108) days.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Gastrostomy tube insertion using minimally invasive techniques may improve fistula control enabling patients to be discharged home sooner than otherwise and improve the rate of healing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterological and General Surgery, University of Helsinki, Meilahti Hospital, Helsinki, Finland. jorma.halttunen@hus.fi
authors.forename: Jorma
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Halttunen
authors.forename: Jukka
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sirén
authors.forename: Eero
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kivilaakso
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017577:Cutaneous Fistula / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D004066:Digestive System Diseases / Q000150:complications; D016145:Endoscopy, Digestive System / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005774:Gastrostomy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D007412:Intestinal Fistula / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D007441:Intubation, Gastrointestinal / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014945:Wound Healing