title: "Fistula patch": making the treatment of enteroatmospheric fistulae in the open abdomen easier.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It remains an extreme challenge in clinical practice to manage the enteroatmospheric fistula (EAF), which is a severer complication after abdominal opening. In current literature, several methods have been established, generally focusing on controlling fistula effluent and keeping the wound bed clean. However, the loss of enteric fistula effluent would potentially lead to a risk of the disturbance of internal environment and malnutrition.
  
  
  METHODS
  We designed an innovative "fistula patch" technique for protecting open abdominal wounds from being contaminated by intestinal fistulae drainages and simultaneously applying enteral nutrition.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eleven patients with single EAF were treated with fistula patch technique. Enteral nutrition was then administrated successfully until the definite surgery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The fistula patch technique is a simple, effective, and inspiring method to control EAF, as it brings together the benefits of avoiding the loss of enteric fistula effluent, simplifying wound management, ceasing tissue destruction, and providing enteral nutrition application.
  
  
  METHODS
  Therapeutic/care management, level V.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Gefei
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jianan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.forename: Song
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Xiuwen
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Guosheng
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.forename: Jieshou
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007412:Intestinal Fistula / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D014945:Wound Healing