Gastric and duodenal fistulas in Crohn's disease

We report gastric or duodenal fistulas in 6 patients with Crohn's colitis or ileocolitis. Two patients had duodenocolic fistulas, 1 had a duodenoileal fistula, 2 had gastrocolic fistulas, and 1 had gastric and duodenal fistulas from an ileocolic anastomosis. In each case the fistula originated from the lower bowel segment, and no patient in this series had primary gastroduodenal Crohn's disease. These cases illustrate the range of manifestations of fistulas to the stomach and duodenum in Crohn's disease, and emphasize that the predominant symptoms determining surgical intervention usually arise from the diseased ileum and colon, rather than from the fistula. Our experience demonstrates the simplicity and safety of excision of the fistula with primary closure of the stomach or duodenum when the stomach and duodenum are otherwise normal by endoscopic examination.