Management of enterocutaneous fistulae in Benin City Nigeria.

We report a prospective study of 17 cases of enterocutaneous fistulae managed at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria between June 1992 and June 1999. All the cases were iatrogenic in origin and all age groups (6 weeks to 68 years, mean 27) were represented. There were 10 males and 7 females. Emergency surgery for acute appendicitis and intestinal obstruction were the commonest causes. Management should be conservative initially but surgery should be resorted to if there is no significant improvement, particularly in circumstances where facilities for total parenteral nutrition are not available. A literature review has been carried out and measures to prevent the development of enterocutaneous fistula are outlined.