[Treatment of postoperative gastrointestinal fistulas by long-term parenteral feeding]

Twenty-nine anastomotic leakages of the gastrointestinal tract were treated by long-term parenteral nutrition; 20 closed spontaneously, the lethality was 18.3%. Especially, well-drained fistulas of the distal small bowel and the colon show a tendency to closure and should be treated by long-term parenteral hyperalimentation (2500-4000 KCal/24 h), if no signs of ileus or diffuse peritonitis are apparent. The technique and chance for success of hyperalimentation are discussed.