Enterocutaneous Fistula Following Surgical Treatment of Traumatic Gut Injury: A Single-Center Hospital-Based Study

Background:
Enterocutaneous fistula (ECF) is a serious complication that can occur
after surgery for traumatic gut injuries. It leads to significant health
problems, increased death rates, and high healthcare costs.
Objective:
This study scrutinized the incidence, presentation, and factors
influencing enterocutaneous fistula formation after surgical treatment of
traumatic gut injuries at a tertiary care center.
Methods:
This retrospective observational study looked back at cases from the
Casualty Surgical Department, Dhaka Medical College Hospital
(DMCH), between July 2006 to June 2007, including patients with
traumatic gut injuries, whether blunt or penetrating, who had
undergone laparotomy using pre-designed case record forms. Statistical
analysis was performed using SPSS version 26.
Results:
Among the 139 patients, 132(95%) were male, with an average age of
31 to 40 years. The most frequent cause of injury was road traffic
accidents (32.3%), followed by stab wounds (30.2%) and gunshot
injuries (24.4%). Twelve patients (8.63%) developed enterocutaneous
fistula. The highest incidence of fistulas occurred in patients aged 31 to
40 years (41.6%).
Conclusion:
Timely recognition of injuries and appropriate surgical treatment may
help lower the rate of this complication.