[Parenteral nutrition in postoperative gastrointestinal fistulas]

During 1981-1984 13 patients with clinically manifest postoperative fistulas (11 small intestinal and 2 colonic) were treated with parenteral hyperalimentation. The therapy only ensued on intensive care conditions and a spontaneous closure of the fistula was observed in 7 patients, in 2 patients closure ensued after relaparotomy and parenteral hyperalimentation the time before. Time of therapy was 18 days on an average, the amount of calories was 2,900-3,400 kcal/day.