[Methods of treatment of external fistula of gastrointestinal tract]

Experience in the treatment of external gastrointestinal fistulas in 1970-1988 consisted of 127 patients with 158 fistulas; 11 patients had a gastric fistula; 14, a duodenal fistula, 42, a fistula of the small intestine; 38, a fistula of the large intestine, and 22 patients had mixed fistulas. Operation for acute appendicitis was the main cause of fistula formation (20.3%). In undeveloped fistulas with considerable and uncontrolled loss of the intestinal contents, treatment consisted in early operation for vital indications for disconnection of the fistula, with preference given to complete bilateral disconnection. In developed fistulas most operations for their closure were carried out through an intraabdominal approach. Total mortality was 25.2%; in most of the fatal cases (90.6%) the fistulas were undeveloped.