Despite advances in medical technology and surgical care, the management of enterocutaneous fistulas remains one of the most challenging problems faced by physicians. Success depends on an expert multidisciplinary team, access to long-term enteral and parenteral nutrition support, advanced wound care, optimal medical management and meticulous, methodical, surgical decision-making and technique. Management is complex and multiphasic. Improved survival rates for many morbid problems have resulted in a growing population of patients with increasingly complex fistulas. This article reviews the etiologies as well as classic and evolving management strategies for this problem.
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