A systematic review of the benefit of total parenteral nutrition in the management of enterocutaneous fistulas.

Enterocutaneous fistulas (ECFs) most commonly occur as a complication of abdominal surgery but can also occur spontaneously in inflammatory bowel disease, diverticulitis, radiation, trauma and sepsis. Although mortality and morbidity have reduced in recent years they are still a major cause of concern in patients with ECF. Nutritional support is a challenging issue in these patients and a major cause of mortality and morbidity. Total parenteral nutrition (TPN) is widely used in the management of ECF. In this review the authors examined the evidence of the use of TPN in ECF with the aim of determining the indications, benefits and outcome of this type of nutritional support in these.