Open Access Review

Article DOI: 10.7759/cureus.7789

Enterocutaneous Fistula: A Simplified Clinical

Approach
Faiz Tuma 1 , Zachary Crespi 2 , Christopher J. Wolff 3 , Drew T. Daniel 3 , Aussama K. Nassar 3

1. General Surgery, Central Michigan University College of Medicine, Saginaw, USA 2. Surgery, Central Michigan
University College of Medicine, Mount Pleasant, USA 3. Surgery, Stanford University, Palo Alto, USA

Corresponding author: Aussama K. Nassar, [email protected]

Abstract
A “fistula” is an abnormal connection between two epithelial surfaces. Fistulae are named based on the two
surfaces or lumens they connect to. Fistulae form due to loss of wall integrity from an underlying insult,
leading to the penetrance of an adjacent organ or epithelized surface. Common causes of small bowel
fistulae include sequelae of surgical intervention, foreign body, bowel diverticula, Crohn's disease,
malignancy, radiation, and infection. A histopathological analysis displays acute and/or chronic
inflammation due to the underlying pathology.

A thorough history and physical examination are important components of patient evaluation. Generally,
patients will present with non-specific constitutional symptoms in addition to local symptoms attributed to
the fistula. In rare instances, symptoms may be severe and life-threatening. Initial laboratory workup
includes complete blood count, comprehensive metabolic panel, and lactate level. Radiologic imaging is
useful for definitive diagnosis and helps delineate anatomy. In practice, computed tomography (CT) is the
initial imaging modality. The addition of intravenous or enteric contrast may be helpful in certain
situations. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may also be used in special circumstances. Invasive
procedures, such as endoscopy, can assist in the evaluation of mucosal surfaces to diagnose pathology such
as inflammatory processes.

Appropriate management should include optimizing nutritional status, delineating fistulous tract anatomy,
skincare, and managing the underlying disease. A non-operative approach is generally accepted as the initial
approach especially in the acute/subacute setting. However, operative intervention is indicated in the
setting of failed non-operative management. Successful management of small bowel fistulae requires a
multidisciplinary team approach.

To conclude, a small bowel fistula is a complex clinical disease, with surgical intervention being the most
common cause in developed countries. The non-operative approach should be trialed before an operative
approach is considered.

Received 04/08/2020
Categories: Gastroenterology, General Surgery, Trauma
Review began 04/10/2020
Review ended 04/16/2020
Keywords: small bowel, fistula, malignancy, malnutrition, gastrointestinal, crohn's disease
Published 04/22/2020

© Copyright 2020 Introduction And Background

Tuma et al. This is an open access article
distributed under the terms of the The term "fistula" refers to abnormal communication between two epithelial surfaces. This definition does
Creative Commons Attribution License not cover all the known types of fistulae. For example, an enteroatmospheric fistula is an example where the
CC-BY 4.0., which permits unrestricted fistula connects the enteric epithelial lining to “air” or wound granulation tissue [1-3].
use, distribution, and reproduction in any
medium, provided the original author and
source are credited. The classification of fistulae is based on two major criteria: anatomy and output. The anatomy of a fistula
dictates its nomenclature and follows the two surfaces or lumens that are connected [4]. The name of the
fistula usually starts from the origin of the fistula and ends in the connected adjacent organ. For example,
an enterocutaneous fistula starts from the small bowel and ends in the skin [5]. Therefore, a small bowel
fistula is a fistula that connects the small bowel to a variety of adjacent organs or surfaces. Common
examples of intestinal fistulae are enterocutaneous fistula, entero-enteric fistula, enterovesical fistula,
enterocolic fistula, enteroatmospheric fistula, and choledochoenteric fistula [6-8]. In addition, fistulae can
be further classified depending on their 24-hour output to low output fistula (less than 200 ml/day),
moderate output fistula (200-500 ml/day), and high output fistula (greater than 500 ml/day).

Fistulae are complex surgical conditions that pose a significant challenge to current surgical care [7].
Assessment, management, and prognosis depend on the underlying etiology, the complexity of the fistula,
and the patients' comorbid factors [9-10]. Small bowel fistulae are, unfortunately, a common surgical disease
of the gastrointestinal tract. Given that, small bowel fistulae will be the focus of discussion in this review
article and other types of fistulae will not be discussed in this review.

How to cite this article

Tuma F, Crespi Z, Wolff C J, et al. (April 22, 2020) Enterocutaneous Fistula: A Simplified Clinical Approach. Cureus 12(4): e7789. DOI
10.7759/cureus.7789
 Review
Etiology
The etiologies of small bowel fistulae are as follows:

1. Surgical Complication

This is the most common cause of small bowel fistulae. Up to 80% of small bowel fistulae are reported to be
postabdominal procedures [11]. Small bowel resection, Meckel's diverticulum resection, incisional hernia
repair, adhesion-lysis, and drainage of intraabdominal collections are commonly reported in association
with fistulae development. A fistula, in these settings, starts as an intraoperative injury to the small
bowel. This subsequently causes the leakage of enteric contents, which may collect and form an
intraabdominal pocket or abscess. Chronic inflammation in the area of the injury causes the breakdown of
adjacent tissues and may eventually lead to the disruption of normal anatomic boundaries. This process is
defined as a fistula when a new connection is created between two previously disconnected structures.

2. Bowel Diverticula

Diverticula, both false and true types, are a common cause of fistulae. Colonic diverticula fistulizing to the
small bowel (coloenteric fistula) or small bowel diverticula (e.g. Meckel's, duodenal, or jejunal diverticula)
connecting to other organs is relatively common [12]. It is thought that the perforation of the diverticulum
(micro or macro), with subsequent acute inflammation and abscess formation, will erode and extend to an
adjacent organ wall and create the fistulous connection. Occasionally, the pressure gradient on both ends of
the fistula with the continued inflammatory process will likely maintain the fistula tract.

3. Crohn's Disease

Chronic inflammatory bowel diseases, particularly Crohn's disease, is a well-known cause of small bowel
fistula [13-15]. Entero-enteric, enterocolic, enterovesical, enterovaginal, and enterocutaneous fistulae are
common examples of complications that occur in patients with Crohn's disease [7,16-17].

4. Malignancy

Adenocarcinoma of the small bowel or adjacent organs is a known cause of fistulation to and from the small
bowel [18]. These fistulae are also called malignant fistulae. Malignant tumors may spread radially. It is the
pressure from this outward extension into other tissues that causes the breakdown of tissue planes and
abnormal fistulous connections.

5. Radiation

Radiation causes long-term chronic inflammation with poor healing and repair processes. Therefore, an
intestinal fistula caused by radiation manifests after a long lag period that could extend several months or
years and is particularly difficult to manage and heal [19].

6. Non-surgical Injuries and Foreign Bodies

Injuries from trauma or by a foreign body can result in an abnormal fistulous connection due to a chronic
granulomatous reaction [20].

7. Infectious

Infection is another potential etiology for fistulae, especially perianal fistulas. Common infections are
tuberculosis and actinomycosis [21].

Once a fistula has formed, the long-term course is varied but many will spontaneously heal and close. The
persistence of a fistula must make one suspicious for an ongoing pathology. These causes are outlined in the
mnemonic "FRIEND": Foreign body, Radiation, Inflammation, Epithelization, Neoplasm, Distal obstruction.
These pathologies will create an on-going milieu that promotes fistula persistence and must be investigated.

Epidemiology
The incidence of small bowel fistulae varies. An enterocutaneous fistula is the most common type and
represents 88.2% of all fistulae [22]. Quinn M et al. reported, 89.1% of intestinal cutaneous fistula developed
after abdominal surgery, followed by 6.88% occurring spontaneously, and 3.99% occurring after an
endoscopic procedure [23]. In Crohn's disease, 21.7% of patients developed an enterocutaneous fistula on
long-term follow-up [24]. Valle SJ et al. reported that 5.8% of patients developed an enterocutaneous fistula
after cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy [25]. For an aortoenteric fistula,

2020 Tuma et al. Cureus 12(4): e7789. DOI 10.7759/cureus.7789 2 of 6

 more than 75% involve the duodenum (aortoduodenal fistula) given its location from the graft [26]. One
study reported that 0.81% of the endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) patients developed an aortoduodenal
fistula [27]. A cholecystoduodenal fistula was a rare postcholecystectomy complication and presented in
0.42% of patients. A spontaneous cholecystoduodenal fistula due to chronic calculous cholecystitis could
present as gallstone ileus causing 0.095% of mechanical small bowel obstruction [28].

Pathophysiology
As small bowel fistulae usually result from a complication of an underlying disease or injury, proper
assessment and management depend on an understanding of the pathophysiology of the fistulae formation
process [29]. The primary trigger of any fistula is a loss of bowel wall integrity due to an underlying insult.
This will ultimately lead to leakage of bowel content, resulting in abscess formation and irritation and
erosion to an adjacent organ or surface. The process may take from days to years depending on the
underlying etiology. Iatrogenic surgical injuries may lead to intestinal fistulae within a few days while
radiation may take from months to years.

Complex fistulae resulting from surgical procedures are formed by the leakage of intestinal contents that
eventually find their way through the path of least resistance to another organ or surface and possibly
erosions to more than a single organ. Iatrogenic controlled fistulae are intentionally formed for source
control in the management of sepsis. An example of this is the acceptance of an ongoing bowel anastomotic
leak controlled through an intraabdominally placed drain. The same concept applies to the external drainage
of pancreatic fluid, which may accumulate after pancreatic surgery.

Histopathology
The histopathologic examination of an enterocutaneous fistula is usually performed postoperatively and is
largely nonspecific. Findings usually show an acute-on-chronic inflammatory reaction in addition to the
original pathology of the causative disease. The acute inflammation is caused by the primary pathology
causing the fistula (diverticular disease, malignancy, etc.), tissue irritation by the flow of intestinal content,
and the resulting infection [30]. Chronic inflammation is observed in radiation-induced fistula, Crohn's
disease, malignancy, and chronic fistulae. Giant cell reaction is also seen in Crohn’s, tuberculosis, and
actinomycosis. Identifying the fistula histopathology is usually done late and only after surgery.
Occasionally, intraoperative diagnosis is made by completing a biopsy of incidentally identified fistulae. A
frozen section is rarely used and is sometimes indicated to rule out malignancy to plan surgical excision.
The surgical excision of malignancy involves en-bloc radical excision of the fistula and adjacent organs to
achieve an R0 oncologic resection.

Postsurgical intestinal fistulae usually provoke an intense acute inflammatory reaction with a significant
infectious bacterial translocation that may lead to sepsis. Severe septic shock with multiorgan system failure
can be the presenting clinical picture on some of these occasions. Source control is the most crucial step in
patients' survival in this scenario.

History and physical

The history and physical exam of patients with a small bowel fistula are an important component of
evaluation and management planning. A variety of signs and symptoms can be identified in patients with
these fistulae. On history, general non-specific constitutional symptoms are weakness, fever, chills, malaise,
poor appetite, and protein and caloric malnutrition. Other specific symptoms are feculent/bilious wound
discharge, diarrhea, and gastrointestinal (GI) bleed. Organ-specific symptoms are usually related to the
organ involved in the fistula. Examples of organ-specific clinical manifestations are recurrent polymicrobial
urinary tract infections (UTIs), pneumaturia, or fecaluria in a colovesical fistula [17]. Vaginal pain, feculent
discharge, and recurrent infections are seen in a recto- or colovaginal fistula [16]. Skin pain, irritation, and
excoriation are also seen in an entero or colocutaneous fistula. The more proximal the small bowel fistula,
the worse the skin presentation, given the highly irritant secretions from the pancreas and stomach. In the
acute phase of postsurgical small bowel fistula and leak, symptoms are usually more severe and can even be
life-threatening given bacterial translocation from the raw, non-epithelialized surfaces. Sudden-onset
deterioration of vital signs, severe abdominal pain, and peritoneal signs with tenderness could be a sign of
an abscess or an intraperitoneal contamination/leak with concomitant sepsis.

Evaluation
The acuity of the fistula presentation will dictate the evaluation approach. Chronic or subacute fistulae, such
as enterocutaneous, enterovesical, enterovaginal, or entero-enteric fistulae, are usually evaluated in an
outpatient setting. The aim of the evaluation in this setting would be to (1) confirm the diagnosis,
delineating anatomy with the characterization of the site, size, and complexity of the fistula, (2) identify the
underlying disease, (3) plan for management, (4) re-evaluate, and (5) follow up progression. An acute small
bowel fistula, as in a postsurgical complication, is usually evaluated in a hospital setting on an urgent
basis to verify the diagnosis, rule out other complications, and evaluate appropriate sepsis workup and
treatment.

2020 Tuma et al. Cureus 12(4): e7789. DOI 10.7759/cureus.7789 3 of 6

 Evaluation Modalities

Clinical: A clinical assessment usually starts with a thorough history and physical exam (see above).

Laboratory: 1. A complete blood count (CBC) to assess the white cell count, rule out blood loss anemia, and
assess the hemoglobin level as compared to baseline. Additionally, a low MCV could indicate chronic blood
loss anemia or malignancy; 2. A comprehensive metabolic panel, to assess electrolyte disturbances, kidney
function, and hydration status; 3. Lactate, to assess tissue perfusion and guide resuscitation with other
perfusion markers [31].

Imaging: Imaging with gastrointestinal (GI) contrast that traverses through the fistula (fistulogram) usually
substantiates the diagnosis. On occasion, the contrast is not seen in the fistula itself but is seen in the
end organ (bladder, vagina, extra-abdominally), which also provides the diagnosis [32]. Upper GI series, small
bowel follow-through, or contrast enema can provide this confirmation. A computed tomography (CT) scan,
however, is often the initial study, especially in an acute intestinal fistula. A CT scan is highly specific in
delineating fistulous tract anatomy and often rules out the presence of an abdominopelvic abscess. A CT
scan can also help with surgical planning. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may also be necessary when
the CT scan does not reveal a fistula but clinical suspicion remains. MRI has the advantage of better soft
tissue characterization. It is also useful in complex fistulas such as in complicated Crohn’s disease [33]. A
variant of MRI known as magnetic resonance enterorrhaphy is now widely used to rule out small bowel
pathology and helps in delineating fistulous anatomy especially in Crohn’s disease [33].

Endoscopy: Colposcopy, cystoscopy, gastroduodenoscopy, bronchoscopy, and colonoscopy are occasionally

utilized to aid the diagnosis of fistulas. This is done by the visualization of the mucosal surface of the scoped
organ. A small area of inflamed, red, and possibly elevated mucosa are signs of possible fistulous tract
opening. Unless the fistula is very wide, it is usually difficult to visualize its lumen
endoscopically. Endoscopy can provide further information about the underlying disease such as malignancy
or Crohn’s disease. Fistulae might be an incidental finding of endoscopy that is performed for other reasons.
In this situation, further investigations are required.

Treatment/Management
The appropriate management of small bowel fistulae is based on four prongs: (1) optimizing nutritional
status, (2) delineating fistulous tract anatomy, (3) skincare, and (4) managing the underlying disease [34]. A
small bowel fistula is, as discussed above, a complication of an underlying disease, procedure, foreign body,
or injury. Treatment will, therefore, include the fistula itself and the underlying pathology when treatable.
Therefore, confirming the fistula etiology is essential and should be done before planning treatment. A good
clinical practice is to treat with the least aggressive and safest approach. This generally includes a trial of
non-operative management aimed at addressing nutrition, skincare, and the underlying disease.

Non-operative Approach

Medical treatment of the symptoms and possible complications of the small bowel fistula can be used as
sufficient first-line treatment in selected patients, particularly in low output fistulas. This approach can also
be considered in high-risk patients with severe underlying disease. The associated complication rate from
this approach is found to be low in recent studies [35-36].

The basic principle of non-operative treatment is to control the fistula in the acute setting and prevent
further complications such as sepsis, skin complications, or dehydration. Medical treatment includes issues
related to skincare and protection, optimizing nutrition, antibiotics, maximizing the medical treatment of
the underlying disease such as in Crohn's disease or diverticulitis, and support of the patient’s general
nutritional status. Total parenteral nutrition (TPN) with complete bowel rest is sometimes advocated in
high-output fistula to facilitate healing and decreasing output [34].

Endoscopic Therapies

These therapies are gaining wider application with the advancement of endoscopic therapy techniques. This
is managed via an endoluminal approach with covered stents, sealants, clips, and plugs [37-38].

Operative Approach

Operating for newly diagnosed fistulas should ideally be delayed for at least three months given the degree
of inflammation and the risk of creating further injuries. The basic principle of the surgical approach is to
excise the involved segment of the bowel and the fistula. After the diagnosis of the fistula and confirmation
of the underlying disease with sufficient characterization, surgical treatment can be planned accordingly.
Limited conservative excision of the involved intestinal segment and the fistula is recommended in
operative cases of diverticular disease, Crohn's disease, and other reversible inflammatory diseases. More
radical and oncologic excision is recommended in surgically treatable malignancy. Special considerations

2020 Tuma et al. Cureus 12(4): e7789. DOI 10.7759/cureus.7789 4 of 6

 with specific fistulae should be taken.

Enhancing healthcare team outcomes

The management of enterovesical fistulae is potentially challenging. It requires assessment and planning by
a multidisciplinary team. Suspected fistula patients should be appropriately referred and
investigated. Proper planning and the involvement of the required services, such as a colorectal
surgeon, dietitian, colostomy nurse, general surgeon, and gastroenterologist, are essential. Other
specialties, such as oncology, radiology, wound therapy, nutritionist, and nursing, are usually also needed
when caring for patients with a small bowel fistula.

Conclusions
A small bowel fistula is a complex clinical disease, with surgical intervention being the most common cause
in developed countries. A non-operative approach should be trialed before an operative approach is
considered. A multidisciplinary team approach should be started early in the disease process with the goal of
nutritional support, skin protection and delineation of anatomy. The operative approach provides definitive
management and is usually attempted after the failure of non-operative management.

Additional Information
Disclosures
Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the
following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from
any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have
no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might
have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no
other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work.

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