Progress in the Application of Hydrogel Materials for the Treatment of Intestinal Fistula

Intestinal fistula refers to an abnormal anatomical channel between the intestines or between the intestine and another organ, commonly resulting from factors such as intestinal incision leakage, anastomotic leak, inflammatory bowel disease, and radiation enteropathy. Following its occurrence, various complications may arise, including abdominal infection, sepsis, intra-abdominal hypertension, massive abdominal hemorrhage, necrotizing fasciitis of the abdominal wall, chronic critical illness, and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome. In most cases, surgical resection of the intestinal fistula combined with thorough irrigation and drainage is required, though healing remains challenging. Hydrogels, as cross-linked polymer materials, are widely used in pharmaceuticals, biomedical implants, tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, and bioadhesive barriers. Based on these characteristics and functions, hydrogel materials also play a significant role in the treatment of intestinal fistulas. This review will systematically outline the design strategies, application mechanisms, and research progress of hydrogel materials for treating intestinal fistulas, and discuss current challenges as well as future development trends.