Enterocutaneous Fistula Following Surgical Treatment of Traumatic Gut Injury: A Single-Center Hospital-Based Study

Abstract

Background: Enterocutaneous fistula (ECF) is a serious complication that can occur after surgery for traumatic gut injuries. It leads to significant health problems, increased death rates, and high healthcare costs. Objective: This study scrutinized the incidence, presentation, and factors influencing enterocutaneous fistula formation after surgical treatment of traumatic gut injuries at a tertiary care center. Methods: This retrospective observational study looked back at cases from the Casualty Surgical Department, Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), between July 2006 to June 2007, including patients with traumatic gut injuries, whether blunt or penetrating, who had undergone laparotomy using pre-designed case record forms. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 26. Results: Among the 139 patients, 132(95%) were male, with an average age of 31 to 40 years. The most frequent cause of injury was road traffic accidents (32.3%), followed by stab wounds (30.2%) and gunshot injuries (24.4%). Twelve patients (8.63%) developed enterocutaneous fistula. The highest incidence of fistulas occurred in patients aged 31 to 40 years (41.6%). Conclusion: Timely recognition of injuries and appropriate surgical treatment may help lower the rate of this complication.

J Rang Med Col. 2025 Sep;10(2): 26-32