Current management of enterocutaneous fistulas

Excerpt

The editors of the European Journal of Trauma and Emergency Surgery asked us to put together a focus issue on the current management of gastroenterocutaneous fistulas. As surgeons who deal almost daily with this problem, we were delighted to take this on, but the task before us was not simple. The problem is enormous for the individual patient and treating surgeon, which requires real expertise, complex surgical intervention, and a team approach. With this in mind, we set to create a series of articles that will meet one aim: review the current principles and practices of the management of this serious clinical issue and, perhaps most importantly, articulate whether there is anything new in the management of fistulas both from the surgical standpoint, as well as from the medical and physiology standpoint. For this, we asked many of our colleagues, all practicing surgeons, from different parts of the world, to help us address these questions. So is there anything new, indeed? We will let the readers decide on that. …