What Are the Treatments for Enterocutaneous Fistulas?

Enterocutaneous fistulas are abnormal openings that appear in the intestines and/or stomach and allow the contents to leak through the skin. Enterocutaneous fistulas can be caused by surgery, infections in the digestive system, inflammatory bowel disease or trauma to the intestines or stomach.

Treatment

• Treatment of enterocutaneous fistulas includes fluids and nutritional support, bowel rest, replacing electrolytes and pain management.

Considerations

• Most enterocutaneous fistulas heal without surgical intervention.

Surgical Correction

• If the enterocutaneous fistula isn't healing, it might be necessary to remove the section of the intestine surrounding the fistula.

Time Frame

• Research conducted at Department of Surgery at St Mark’s Hospital in Harrow, UK, concluded that early management of enterocutaneous fistulas leads to a better outcome, but surgery is recommended if the condition hasn't healed within six months.

Recovery

• The same study revealed that surgical treatment of enterocutaneous fistulas led to a successful recovery in 82 percent of the cases reviewed.