CC BY 4.0 · Surg J (N Y) 2017; 03(01): e25-e31
DOI: 10.1055/s-0037-1599273
Review Article
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Treatment Options in Gastrointestinal Cutaneous Fistulas

Itamar Ashkenazi
1   Department of Surgery, Hillel Yaffe Medical Center, Hadera, Israel
,
Fernando Turégano-Fuentes
2   Department of Emergency Surgery, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañon, Madrid, Spain
,
Oded Olsha
3   Department of Surgery, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
,
Ricardo Alfici
1   Department of Surgery, Hillel Yaffe Medical Center, Hadera, Israel
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

12 July 2016

25 January 2017

Publication Date:
14 March 2017 (online)

Abstract

Enterocutaneous fistulas occur most commonly following surgery. A minority of them is caused by a myriad of other etiologies including infection, malignancy, and radiation. While some fistulas may close spontaneously, most patients will eventually need surgery to resolve this pathology. Successful treatment entails adoption of various methods of treatment aimed at control of sepsis, protection of surrounding skin and soft tissue, control of fistula output, and maintenance of nutrition, with eventual spontaneous or surgical closure of the fistula. The aim of this article is to review the various treatment options in their appropriate context.

 
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