Management of digestive fistulas.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

The efficacy of total parenteral nutrition and somatostatin was assessed in reducing output and promoting spontaneous closure of postoperative digestive fistulas.

METHODS:

In a consecutive series of 23 patients, closure was achieved in 83% of patients after a mean fistula duration of 11.0 +/- 7.9 days and a mean of 13.2 +/- 7.0 days of drug treatment, and without mortality.

RESULTS:

A marked first-day effect (output drop > 50%) was noted in 60% of patients and had a good prognosis. Infection of the fistula markedly prolonged fistula closure time, but did not affect total outcome.

CONCLUSION:

Somatostatin has been shown to be very useful in the conservative treatment of digestive fistulas because of its ability to reduce output significantly and to accelerate spontaneous closure.

• Authors: D Ysebaert, R Van Hee, G Hubens, W Vaneerdeweg, E Eyskens
• Journal: Scandinavian journal of gastroenterology. Supplement (Scand J Gastroenterol Suppl) Vol. 207 Pg. 42-4 ( 1994) ISSN: 0085-5928 [Print] England
• PMID: 7701267 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Somatostatin

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Aged
• Combined Modality Therapy
• Cutaneous Fistula (therapy)
• Humans
• Intestinal Fistula (therapy)
• Middle Aged
• Pancreatic Fistula (therapy)
• Parenteral Nutrition, Total
• Postoperative Complications (therapy)
• Prognosis
• Somatostatin (therapeutic use)