[Enteral nutrition in gastrointestinal fistulas. Review of the literature].

The use of enteral feeding systems in patients with enterocutaneous fistulae is reviewed. The following problems are discussed: methods of administration, effects of enteral nutrition on patients with a gastro-intestinal fistula, clinical results (nutritional schemes, timing of nutritional support and caloric input). It is concluded that an enteral feeding system is the first choice in cases of distal GIT-fistulae, and in low-output fistulae. In other cases, it may be used in combination with TPN. The need for fistula-registration is thought to be of importance in view of prospective studies in this field.