GASTRIC AND SMALL BOWEL FISTULAS

Fifty-five cases of small bowel-cutaneous fistulas are presented. The majority of these are iatrogenic, resulting from failure in surgical technics. Morbidity is excessive with long complicated hospitalization. Early aggressive surgical intervention, particularly in lower tract fistulas, provides the best cure rate. Mortality is still unacceptably high and prevention of small bowel fistulas through careful surgical technic and judgement offer the best means for prevention of this grave problem. © 1969.