[Nurse's experience caring for a patient with malignant fungating wound with enterocutaneous fistula]

This report describes a nurse's experience treating a metastatic skin lesion with draining enterocutaneous fistula located in the right posterolateral abdominal wall. The period of nursing care ran from April 22nd through June 25th, 2006. In studying the nursing process, Gordon's assessment tools were used to gather subjective and objective data to establish critical care issues, which included chronic pain, sleep pattern disturbance, impaired tissue integrity, and disturbed body image. The focus of care was to manage the pain and irritation caused by the fistula of enterocutaneous. Targeting the issue of impaired tissue integrity, we developed and applied various methods to decrease the wound macerated from fecal, control odor, maintain patient comfort and improve patient quality of life. We helped the patient achieve her wish to end her life in peace. This nursing experience may provide a reference in caring for such cases in the clinic.