Colonic polyps and coloduodenal fistula: unusual complications in patient with cystic fibrosis

Abstract

Abdominal pain, vomiting, and obstipation often occur in children and young adults with cystic fibrosis (CF). The common causes include meconium ileus equivalent, intussusception, and adhesions from previous surgery. One of our patients with CF who had meconium peritonitis as a neonate presented with duodenal obstruction during childhood. This was caused by colonic polyps arising in the hepatic flexure and eroding through the colonic and duodenal walls into the duodenum. She was treated with total parenteral nutrition, right colectomy, gastric diversion, and a controlled duodenal fistula that healed uneventfully. She has remained well 1 year after discharge from the hospital. To our knowledge, a similar case has not been reported previously.