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. 2010 Sep;23(3):133-41.
doi: 10.1055/s-0030-1262980.

Historical perspectives in the care of patients with enterocutaneous fistula

Jonathan B Lundy  1 , Josef E Fischer
Affiliations

Historical perspectives in the care of patients with enterocutaneous fistula

Jonathan B Lundy et al. Clin Colon Rectal Surg. 2010 Sep.

Abstract

Evidence can be found throughout surgical history of how devastating an enterocutaneous fistula (ECF) can be for both patient and surgeon. From antiquity, this complication of abdominal surgery, malignancy, radiation, trauma, or inflammatory processes has been a significant challenge to surgeons due to high associated mortality and significant morbidity. An ECF causes dehydration, malnutrition, skin excoriation, and sepsis, and has profound psychological effects on the patient. Recent mortality rates of patients suffering an ECF approach 20%. The authors illustrate the history of management of patients with ECF and discuss advances in perioperative care including parasurgical care, nutrition, wound care, and the history of surgical techniques.

Keywords: Enterocutaneous fistulas; historical review.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Complex posttraumatic abdominal wound with gastrocutaneous, enterocutaneous, and colocutaneous fistulas managed with negative pressure wound dressing.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Techniques of exclusion procedures described by Edmunds and colleagues. (From Edmunds LH, Williams GM, Welch CE. External fistulas arising from the gastro-intestinal tract. Ann Surg 1960;152:445–471. Redrawn here.)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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