ENTEROCUTANEOUS FISTULA: PRESENTATION, TREATMENT MODALITIES, AND OUTCOMES IN 20 PATIENTS

Background: Enterocutaneous stula (ECF) is a difcult condition managed in surgical wards and is associated with signicant morbidity and mortality. Sepsis, malnutrition, and electrolyte abnormality are the classical triad of complications of ECF. This study Aims & Objectives: explores different treatment modalities and outcomes in SUM Hospital. All consecutive patients who Materials And Methods: developed or presented with ECF during the study period were included. The etiology, anatomic distribution, stula output, clinical course, complications, predictive factors for spontaneous closure, and outcomes for patients with ECF were studied. A tota Results: l of 20 patients were included in this prospective observational study, of which 13 were males and 7 were females. About 90% of ECFs were postoperative. The ileum was found to be the most common site of ECF. Also, 50% of stulas were high and 50% were low. Serum albumin levels correlated signicantly with stula healing and mortality. Surgical intervention was required in 60% of patients. Conclusion: Most of the ECFs are encountered in the postoperative period. Serum albumin levels can predict stula healing and mortality. Conservative management should be the rst line of treatment. Mortality in patients with ECF continues to be signicant and is commonly related to malnutrition and sepsis. Timely surgical intervention signicantly improves the outcomes.