Nutritional support in high-output fistulas of the alimentary tract.

A total of 63 patients with high-output alimentary tract fistules was treated during a 3-year period, using three different regimens of nutritional support. The fistula closed spontaneously in 46 patients (73%), and 7 patients (11%) were cured by direct surgical closure. Nine patients died, a mortality rate of 14.3%. The combination of nutritional support, skin protection, and timed surgical intervention can reduce the mortality rate to below 10%.