Experience with the use of vacuum dressings in the management of acute enterocutaneous fistulas

Entero-Cutaneous and Entero-Atmospheric Fistulas: Insights into Management Using Negative Pressure Wound Therapy

Enteric fistulas are a common problem in gastrointestinal tract surgery and remain associated with significant mortality rates, due to complications such as sepsis, malnutrition, and electrolyte imbalance. The increasingly widespread use of open abdomen techniques for the initial treatment of abdominal sepsis and trauma has led to the observation of so-called entero-atmospheric fistulas. Because of their clinical complexity, the proper management of enteric fistula requires a multidisciplinary team. The main goal of the treatment is the closure of enteric fistula, but also mortality reduction and improvement of patients' quality of life are fundamental. Successful management of patients with enteric fistula requires the establishment of controlled drainage, management of sepsis, prevention of fluid and electrolyte depletion, protection of the skin, and provision of adequate nutrition. Many of these fistulas will heal spontaneously within 4 to 6 weeks of conservative management. If closure is not accomplished after this time point, surgery is indicated. Despite advances in perioperative care and nutritional support, the mortality remains in the range of 15 to 30%. In more recent years, the use of negative pressure wound therapy for the resolution of enteric fistulas improved the outcomes, so patients can be successfully treated with a non-operative approach. In this review, our intent is to highlight the most important aspects of negative pressure wound therapy in the treatment of patients with enterocutaneous or entero-atmospheric fistulas.

Vacuum-Assisted Closure in a Patient With Entero-Atmospheric Fistula: A Case Report

The entero-atmospheric fistula (EAF) is a recognized complication of open abdomen surgeries, which causes significant morbidity and mortality. This usually causes long hospitalizations and may require many surgical operations. While different methods of treatment for EAF are used, all different methods share the same goal, which is a proper closure of the fistula and the open abdomen to avoid recurrence and complications. We report a case of a 48-year-old female with a bowel perforation following an attempted open bilateral ovarian cyst drainage with cyst wall biopsy complicated by entero-atmospheric fistula treated by wound closure with vacuum-assisted pressure. In conclusion, the use of vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) to induce spontaneous healing of EAFs can provide a safe acceptable alternative to surgical treatment.

Using a bio-scanner and 3D printing to create an innovative custom made approach for the management of complex entero-atmospheric fistulas

Enteroatmospheric fistulae are challenging clinical conditions that require surgical expertise and that can result in chronic debilitating conditions placing the patient in a vicious cycle characterized by non healing wounds and malnutrition. They are a complex entity that presents great variability depending on the number, shape, and size of the fistulous orifices, their debit, and the dimensions of the wound. This means that, at present, there is no device that adapts to the anatomical characteristics of each patient and manages to control the spillage of intestinal effluvium from the wound. The aim of this study is to describe the manufacturing technique and to assess the preliminary results of a custom device designed through bioscanner imaging and manufactured using 3D printing for use with negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) in the management of enteroatmospheric fistula. A proof of concept is given, and the design of the device is presented for the first time. After obtaining images of each fistula with a bioscanner, a personalised device was designed for each patient by 3D printing shape of a prism and a hollow base, taking into account the dimensions of the fistulous area in order to perform a floating ostomy to isolate the wound from the debit enteric. The polycaprolactone (PCL) device was placed including inside the fistulous surface and surrounding it with the NPWT system in order to accelerate wound healing.

Continuous irrigation and suction with a triple-cavity drainage tube in combination with sequential somatostatin-somatotropin administration for the management of postoperative high-output enterocutaneous fistulas: Three case reports and literature review

INTRODUCTION

Enterocutaneous fistula is considered one of the most serious complications in general surgery and is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Although various treatments are reported to have varying success, high-output enterocutaneous fistulas (output over 500 ml/day) continue to be associated with high mortality, and few papers on this topic exist in the literature. The aim of this study is to describe an effective multidisciplinary treatment method for postoperative high-output enterocutaneous fistula and discuss the clinical development of the therapeutic strategy.

PATIENT CONCERNS

Three patients suffered high-output enterocutaneous fistulas, in which case 1 presented with duodenal fistula, case 2 with ileal fistula, and case 3 with small bowel fistula.

DIAGNOSIS

All 3 cases were diagnosed with high-output enterocutaneous fistulas by drainage of intestinal contents.

INTERVENTIONS

With the exception of routine treatment including fluid resuscitation, correction of the electrolyte balance, control of infection, and optimal nutrition, all the cases accepted continuous irrigation and suction with triple-cavity drainage tubes in combination with sequential somatostatin-somatotropin administration were given. With regard to establishing effective drainage, the triple-cavity tube placement was performed by insertion through the initial drainage channel in case 1, percutaneous puncture with dilation by graduated dilators in case 2, and tract reconstruction in case 3. The technical details of the approach are described and clinical characteristics including fistula location, defect size, output volume, approach of triple-cavity tube placement, length of fistula tract, somatostatin and somatotropin administration time, and fistula healing time were recorded and compared. In addition, other various techniques reported in the literature are reviewed and discussed.

OUTCOMES

All the patients were cured by the multidisciplinary treatments and were followed up without fistula recurrence and other relevant complications at 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months after the treatments.

CONCLUSION

The strategy involving continuous irrigation and suction with a triple-cavity drainage tube in combination with sequential somatostatin-somatotropin administration may be a safe and effective alternative treatment for postoperative high-output enterocutaneous fistula and a more practical method that is easy to execute to manage this problem. Long-term studies, involving more patients, are still necessary to confirm this suggestion.

Three Cases Describing Outcomes of Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy With Instillation for Complex Wound Healing

BACKGROUND

We describe 3 cases where negative-pressure wound therapy with instillation and dwell time (NPWTi-d) was used as an adjunctive therapy for 3 chronic wounds.

CASES

Three patients (2 males and 1 female), ranging in age from 28 to 53 years, presented with complex, infected wounds: (1) a diabetic foot ulcer with underlying infection, (2) a dehisced abdominal wound with enterocutaneous fistula, and (3) a large wound of the upper torso and axillary region resulting from soft tissue necrosis. Negative-pressure wound therapy with instillation and dwell time was initiated by instilling normal saline or an antiseptic solution; the solution was left in place for 3 to 10 minutes. Continuous negative pressure was then applied at -125 or -150 mm Hg; cycles were repeated every 1 or 3 hours. Treatment was applied for 5 to 44 days, and dressings were changed every 2 to 3 days. Granulation tissue developed in all 3 wounds; all closed after subsequent skin grafting.

CONCLUSIONS

Outcomes of these cases suggest that NPWTi-d may be used as an adjunctive treatment modality for a variety of chronic wounds.

Successful treatment of enteroatmospheric fistulas in combination with negative pressure wound therapy: Experience on 3 cases and literature review

Enteroatmospheric fistulas (EAF) are rare but challenging and morbid complications of abdominal surgery and require time- as well as resource-consuming management. Furthermore, they severely affect patients' quality of life. Several treatment modalities for EAF management are described in the literature. We describe 3 consecutive cases of EAF treatment by employing negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) along with either a special silicone fistula adapter or a Silo-Vac-like system in another case to isolate the fistula from the remaining abdominal wound. Spontaneous fistula closure was achieved in 2 of the 3 cases, and surgical resection of the small bowel segment harbouring EAF opening was possible in a third case after wound conditioning. The rate of fistula closure was 100% (n = 3/3). Compartmentalisation of the contaminated area using NPWT accelerated healing of the open abdominal wound remarkably. In summary, we present a useful tool for the challenging management of EAF and review the literature on different treatment options of EAF available today.

A rare approach to entero-atmospheric fistula

PATIENT

Female, 60 FINAL DIAGNOSIS: Recurrent incisional hernia Symptoms: -

MEDICATION

- Clinical Procedure: Limited ileo-cecal resection Specialty: Surgery.

OBJECTIVE

Diagnostic/therapeutic accidents.

BACKGROUND

Iatrogenic entero-atmospheric fistula is devastating and its management is extremely difficult because it is often associated with fluid and electrolyte disturbances, nutritional problems, and life-threatening sepsis.

CASE REPORT

A 60-year-old woman underwent laparoscopic repair of a recurrent incisional hernia that was complicated by iatrogenic cecal injury necessitating a limited ileocecal resection and onlay prosthetic mesh repair of the hernia. Postoperatively, sloughing of the overlying skin led to mesh exposure. An attempted rotational flap coverage was complicated by small bowel injury, which was recognized and repaired. However, an entero-atmospheric fistula developed after the removal of contaminated mesh. The fistula was initially treated by vacuum-assisted closure dressing and later was converted to a 'stoma'. Six months later, the small bowel segment bearing the fistula was excised and bowel continuity was restored.

CONCLUSIONS

In selected cases, the conversion of entero-atmospheric fistula to a 'stoma' allows the patient to be discharged home early and maintain good nutritional status while awaiting the definitive surgical intervention.