BACKGROUND: Enterocutaneous fistulae can occur spontaneouslly or in the postoperative period. Postoperative fistulae represents more than 90% of all intestinal fistulae and they are always related to some of the main complications of surgery of the alimentary tract. Different prognostics classifications of patients with postoperative enterocutaneous fistulae have been proposed, mainly based on the number of risk factors present and on the characteristics of the fistulae. The aim of the present study is to analyze prognostic indicators of lethality in patients with postoperative enterocutaneous fistulae. METHOD: Thirty-nine patients submitted to surgical procedures who developed enterocutaneous fistulae were studied. There were 27 male (69.2%) and 12 female (30.8%) and the average age was 45.8 years. The potential risk fators considered were sepsis, malnutrition, fistulae output, age,and emergency operation. RESULTS: Sepsis was present in 13 patients with 61.5% mortality , high output in 23 patients with 30.4% mortality, age over 60 years in 14 patients with 28.5 % mortality, and low serum albumin level was related to mortality. CONCLUSION: The authors concluded that sepsis was the most important factor related to mortality in patients with postoperative enterocutaneous fistulae.
Enterocutaneous fistulae; Complications; Lethality
