title: [Surgical and medical treatment outcome of enterocutaneus fistulas].
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Cirugía de Colon y Recto, Departamento de Cirugía, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, México, DF.
authors.forename: Orlando
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Bada-Yllán
authors.forename: Félix I
authors.initials: FI
authors.lastname: Téllez-Avila
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takahashi-Monroy
authors.forename: Claudia María
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Hoyos-Tello
authors.forename: Xeily
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zárate
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: García-Osogobio
mesh_terms: 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