title: [Conservative treatment of the digestive fistulas: personal experience].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The authors, thanks to experience obtained in an Unit for the treatment of digestive fistulas, discuss the possibility of a conservative treatment for the anastomotic fistulas.
  
  
  METHODS
  From 2000 to 2003 were treated thirty-five patients with post-anastomotic gastroenteric fistulas marked according to their localization, way end output (51.5% high, 42.8% moderate and 5.7% low). The treatment is based on an aspiration system, sometimes integrated with an irrigation system. A semi-permeable barrier was created over the fistula by vacuum packing a synthetic, hydrophobic, polymer covered with a self-adherent surgical sheet. This system create a vacuum chamber equipped with a subathmospheric pressures between 262.2 and 337.5 mmHg (350-450 mmbar), integrated with a continuous irrigation using antibiotic solutions or 3% lactic acid.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The AA. obtained the resolution in 30 patients (85.7%), 3 patients needs the surgery (8.6%), 2 died, one for sepsis and the other one for malnutrition. The mean time for the closure was 45 days (from 20 to 90). A part of digestive external fistulas goes to spontaneous resolution so comes the idea that the creation of particular condition is the basis of their closure.
authors.affiliation: AORN A Cardarelli, Napoli UOC Chirurgia d'Urgenza.
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Castriconi
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Romagnuolo
authors.forename: Maria Elena
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Giuliano
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bartone
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chianese
authors.forename: Mauro Natale Domenico
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Maglio
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Molino
authors.forename: Patrizio
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Festa
authors.forename: Enzo Saverio
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Zito
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: De Sena
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects; D016154:Digestive System Fistula / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged