[Surgical and medical treatment outcome of enterocutaneus fistulas].
BACKGROUND
Enterocutaneous fistulas are an important complication of gastrointestinal surgery. Most of the cases (75% to 85%) are secondary to postoperative complications and are related to a high morbi-mortality rate, mainly sepsis, malnutrition and fluid and electrolyte imbalance. The aim of this study is to describe the main causes of enterocutaneous fistulas and morbi-mortality associated to treatment in the Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán.


METHODS
Retrospective, observational and longitudinal study. Clinical records of patients with enterocutaneous fistula from January 1999 to December 2003 were reviewed.


RESULTS
51 patients were identified; median age was 45 years (interval 20 to 79 years). Fistula resulted from surgery in 49 cases (96%). A combined therapy of total parenteral nutrition and low residue diet were used in 28 patients (55%). Surgery was performed as definitive treatment in 29 patients (57%). Indications for surgery were: failure to medical treatment in 25 patients (59%) and a persistent high output in 4 (8%). The median of postoperative hospitalization was 11 days (interval 3 to 96 days) and the median of lenght of stay was 30 days (interval 40 to 130 days). There was no mortality.


CONCLUSIONS
Enterocutaneous fistulas require long time of hospitalization. More than 50% of patients need surgery as final treatment.
Bada-Yllán
Orlando
O
Servicio de Cirugía de Colon y Recto, Departamento de Cirugía, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, México, DF.
Téllez-Avila
Félix I
FI
Takahashi-Monroy
Takeshi
T
Hoyos-Tello
Claudia María
CM
Zárate
Xeily
X
García-Osogobio
Sandra
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007412:Intestinal Fistula / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D007902:Length of Stay; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000628:therapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult