Effective surgical treatment for mammary duct fistula

Forty-two patients with 43 mammary duct fistulae, including 23 with a history of at least one previous unsuccessful operation, were treated by excision of the involved duct and fistula alone (15 fistulae) or excision of the fistula combined with total duct excision (28 fistulae). The wounds were closed primarily with antibiotic cover. Two patients had a minor wound infection which settled within 1 month of surgery; one patient developed superficial necrosis of the nipple and one patient required a second operation to excise a discharging sinus. No fistula recurrence has been identified after a median follow-up of 2.5 years. Excision of the involved duct and fistula alone, or excision of the fistula combined with total duct excision performed with antibiotic cover, is probably the treatment of choice for mammary duct fistula.     

Operative management of small bowel fistulae associated with open abdomen

BACKGROUND: Gastrointestinal fistulae associated with open abdomen are serious complications following trauma or other major abdominal surgery. Management is extremely difficult and the mortality is still high in spite of modern medical advances. Patients who survive initial physiological and metabolic derangements require operative closure of the fistula, which is technically demanding and poorly described in the literature. METHODS: A retrospective study of patients with small bowel fistulae associated with open abdomen was performed. Only patients who were stabilized sufficiently to undergo surgical closure of the fistula were enrolled in the study. The operative techniques comprised three important steps: exploratory laparotomy and resection of small bowel fistulae with end-to-end anastomosis; bridging the abdominal wall defect with a sheet of polyglycolic acid mesh; and covering the mesh with bilateral bipedicle anterior abdominal skin flaps. RESULTS: Eight patients were included in the study. The number of operations before surgical closure of the fistula ranged from one to six (mean, 3.6). The time from first operation to surgery for fistula closure ranged from 2.5 to 7.5 months (mean, 4.4 months). Three patients had recurrent fistula, and one died (mortality, 12.5%). Hospital stay ranged from 101 to 311 days (mean, 187 days). CONCLUSION: We present a method of closure of small bowel fistulae associated with open abdomen and hope that this will provide surgeons encountering such complications with a good alternative for surgical management.     

A novel approach to the problem of intestinal fistulization arising in patients managed with open peritoneal cavities

Open management of the peritoneal cavity is an efficacious technique for controlling fulminant intraabdominal sepsis. A significant proportion of these patients develop intestinal fistulae for which there are few good treatment options. We propose a novel technique for preventing and potentially treating intestinal fistulas that involves patching intestinal deserosalizations and fistulas with acellular dermal matrix (Alloderm) and fibrin glue. We report our experience with this technique in 2 patients who developed small bowel deserosalizations, neither of whom went on to develop fistulas. We additionally describe 1 patient who developed an intestinal fistula for whom we were able to affect closure with this technique. We propose that our method is a useful temporizing measure to prevent fistulae formation. Furthermore, we believe this technique may be a useful option for treating intestinal fistulae arising in patients managed with open abdominal wounds.     

Case report: gastrointestinal hemorrhage caused by a pancreas transplant arteriovenous fistula with large psuedoanuerysm 9 years after transplantation

Reported cases of arteriovenous fistulae in transplant recipients are uncommon. We present a case of an arteriovenous fistula associated with a large pseudoaneurysm in the root of the small bowel mesentery of a pancreas transplant. Uniquely, in our case, the arteriovenous fistula presented with an episode of gastrointestinal (GI) hemorrhage 9 years postoperatively. Radiographic imaging including coronal computed tomography angiogram and conventional angiogram demonstrated an arteriovenous fistula in the patient's pancreas transplant between the distal superior mesenteric artery (SMA) and superior mesenteric vein (SMV) with 6 cm aneurysmal dilatation. The tremendous flow in the fistula in the root of the graft small intestine mesentery led to graft duodenal mucosal congestion and lower GI hemorrhage. After successful embolization of the SMA–SMV fistula and pseudoaneurysm using interventional radiographic techniques, the arteriovenous fistula remained thrombosed. The patient had no further episodes of GI bleeding and her endoscopic evaluation was otherwise negative. The presence of arteriovenous fistulae and pseudoaneurysms in pancreas transplant recipients is uncommon, but has been previously documented. This case is further distinguished from previous reports by the notable 9-year interval between transplantation and the onset of hemorrhage. Historically, symptomatic vascular malformations have been associated with significant patient morbidity and mortality. Successful patient management involves timely and accurate diagnosis and intervention.     

Delayed Development of a Traumatic Superior Mesenteric Arteriovenous Fistula Following Multiple Gunshot Wounds to the Abdomen

Traumatic visceral arteriovenous fistulae are rare and pose a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. We present the case of a 20-year-old male who sustained multiple gunshot wounds to the abdomen, injuring the inferior vena cava, duodenum, stomach, and small bowel. The patient was taken emergently to the operating room for repair of his injuries, which required primary small bowel repair, duodenal repair, and inferior vena cava ligation due to exigent hemorrhage. At the initial operation there was a normal pulse in the superior mesenteric artery at the base of the small bowel mesentery, with no evidence of hematoma or thrill in the small bowel mesentery. The patient was subsequently returned to the operating room several times for bowel exploration and abdominal wall closure with mesh. Ten days after his initial injury, the patient was noted to have an abdominal bruit on physical exam. Arteriography demonstrated a fistula between the proximal superior mesenteric artery and vein with significant portal hypertension. The patient underwent surgical repair of the superior mesenteric artery and vein with closure of the fistula. The patient had no further complications and was discharged from the hospital 1 month later, after abdominal wall skin grafting, in good condition. The patient remains in good health 12 months later. Continued vigilance and careful physical examination are important in the identification of delayed vascular injuries and allow timely treatment and avoidance of untoward long-term sequelae.Presented at the Twenty-second Annual Meeting of the Southern California Vasuclar Surgery Society, La Jolla, CA, April 30-May 2, 2004.     

Incidence, diagnosis, and treatment of enteric and colorectal fistulae in patients with Crohn's disease.

OBJECTIVE: The authors review their experience, evaluating the incidence and examining the various modalities employed in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with Crohn's disease complicated by fistulae. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Although common, internal and external fistulae in Crohn's disease may pose challenging problems to the surgeon. METHODS: Of 639 patients who underwent surgical treatment at the University of Chicago between 1970 and 1988 for complications of Crohn's disease, 222 patients (34.7%) were found to have 290 intra-abdominal fistulae. RESULTS: A fistula was diagnosed preoperatively in 154 patients (69.4%), intraoperatively in 60 (27%), and only after examination of the specimen in 8 (3.6%). The fistula represented the primary or single indication for surgical treatment in 14 patients (6.3%) and one of several indications in the remaining patients. Of 165 patients with an abdominal mass or abscess, 69 (41.8%) had a fistula. All patients underwent resection of the diseased intestinal segment; 160 (73.1%) with primary anastomosis and the remaining 62 with a temporary or permanent stoma. The fistula was directly responsible for a stoma in only 16 patients (7.2%) and was never responsible for a permanent stoma. Resection of the diseased bowel achieved en bloc removal of the fistula in 145 cases. Removal of 93 additional fistulae required resection of the diseased bowel segment along with closure of a fistulous opening on the stomach or duodenum (n = 14), bladder (n = 35), or rectosigmoid (n = 44). When the fistula drained through a vaginal cuff (n = 4), the opening was left to close by secondary intention; when the fistula opened through the abdominal wall (n = 46), the fistulous tract was debrided. In the remaining two entero-salpingeal fistulae, en bloc resection of the involved salpinx accomplished complete removal of the fistula. There was a dehiscence of one duodenal and one bladder repair; 14 patients (6%) experienced postoperative septic complications and one patient died. CONCLUSIONS: Fistulae are diagnosed preoperatively in 69% of cases and can be suspected in as many as 42% of patients with an abdominal mass. Fistulae are the primary or single indication for surgical treatment and are directly responsible for a stoma only in a few patients. Treatment, based on resection of the diseased bowel and extirpation of the fistula, can be accomplished with minimal morbidity and mortality.     

Ureteric embolization with stainless-steel coils for managing refractory lower urinary tract fistula: a 12-year experience

OBJECTIVE: To report our 12-year experience with radiological treatment (ureteric embolization) for refractory urinary fistula, as malignancy, radiation therapy, and/or chronic inflammation increase the risk of lower urinary tract fistula after surgical urinary diversion, which can lead to significant morbidity, and for patients who are not surgical candidates permanent nephrostomy drainage and ureteric embolization offer an alternative form of urinary diversion. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed patients who had ureteric occlusion for refractory urinary fistula at our institution between 1993 and 2005. Stainless-steel coils, with or without gelatine sponge, were placed antegradely through a percutaneous nephrostomy tract. Patients were then managed by long-term nephrostomy drainage until death or definitive reconstructive surgery. RESULTS: In all, 29 patients (23 women and six men; mean age 59 years, sd 16) were identified who had urinary fistulae that were refractory to nephrostomy drainage alone. One patient had a history of severe perineal trauma and the remaining 28 had a history of cancer. Seventeen fistulae occurred in the setting of previous surgery, 20 patients had received adjunctive pelvic irradiation and 11 had had chemotherapy. In all, 52 ureters were embolized; occlusion was successful in all cases, with complete or near-complete (<1 pad/day) dryness within 3 days. No repeat embolization was required and there were no significant complications. Two patients were lost to follow-up. Three patients had definitive urinary diversion surgery and currently are well. One patient is alive and living with nephrostomy tubes; 23 patients have died. CONCLUSION: Ureteric embolization is a viable option for managing complex lower urinary tract fistulae in patients with a poor performance status. It can be used as definitive management in patients with a limited life-expectancy or as a temporary measure in those for whom another management plan is anticipated.     

Colonic resection for colovesical fistula: 5-year follow-up

Objectives The outcome of colovesical fistula management may be unsatisfactory; complications are reported in up to 45% of patients. Published studies are retrospective and tend to lack standardized management strategies and long‐term follow‐up. This cohort study assesses a policy of resection of colovesical fistulae in continuity with any distal colorectal stricture, and includes 5‐year follow‐up. Method All patients undergoing surgery in our institution for colovesical fistula between February 1991 and April 1995 were entered into the study. The fistulae were resected in continuity with any distal bowel stricture, according to a standard single‐stage operative protocol. Postoperative mortality and morbidity were recorded, and prospective review was undertaken at April 2000. Results Nineteen consecutive patients entered the study. The source of the fistula was diverticular disease (n = 14), colorectal cancer (n = 3), trauma (n = 1) or Crohn's (n = 1) disease. Thirteen patients had a colorectal stricture. One patient died due to ischaemic colitis within 30 days of surgery. Eleven other patients died of unrelated causes before April 2000, in whom there was no evidence of fistula recurrence before death at a median of 37 months after operation (range 2–95 months). At 5‐year follow‐up there was no evidence of fistula recurrence in the seven remaining patients. Conclusions A policy of resection of the fistula and associated colorectal stricture with primary bowel anastomosis and bladder drainage, resulted in no recurrences and low morbidity. However comorbidity is important in this patient population, most of whom will die from unrelated causes within a few years.     

Anal fistula plug in the treatment of anal fistula: Local experience in Chinese patients

Background: Anal fistula plug was recently introduced as an alternative treatment for anal fistula. However, there is, so far, no published data on the use of the anal fistula plug both locally and in the Chinese population. Methods: From January 2007 to July 2008, consecutive Chinese patients with transphincteric or suprasphincteric anal fistula scheduled for elective surgery were enrolled. Anal fistula plug was used if examination under anaesthesia reviewed an internal opening. Baseline manometry pressure study was carried out for patients with recurrent fistulae. The operative technique was standardized. Measured outcomes included healing and recurrence rates, operating time, length of stay, and time for patients to return to work or normal activity. Results: Eleven patients underwent anal fistula plug placement, with a median follow up of 19 months. Five had completely healed fistulae, including three patients with recurrent fistulae. The success rate was 45 per cent. In the three patients with recurrent fistulae, no significant difference was demonstrated in the resting pressure between preoperative and postoperative values. There is an observable trend that proportionally more recurrent fistulae were healed by anal fistulae plug placement when compared to primary fistulae (100% vs 25%); the difference, however, did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.06, Fisher's exact test). At the conclusion of this study, no recurrence was noted in the five patients with confirmed healing. Conclusions: Our preliminary experience indicates anal fistula plug placement is safe and non-invasive. However, the efficacy appears lower than initially reported. Based on our data the routine use of an anal fistula plug cannot be recommended. In our opinion, anal fistula plug placement can be considered in patients with more complex, high fistulae and in those who have recurrent fistulae despite previous surgery. It provides a non-invasive alternative in these patients, in whom postoperative incontinence is a real concern.     

Perianal fistulodesis – A pilot study of a novel minimally invasive surgical and medical approach for closure of perianal fistulae

BACKGROUNDPerianal fistulae strongly impact on quality of life of affected patients.AIMTo challenge and novel minimally invasive treatment options are needed.METHODSPatients with Crohn’s disease (CD) in remission and patients without inflammatory bowel disease (non-IBD patients) were treated with fistulodesis, a method including curettage of fistula tract, flushing with acetylcysteine and doxycycline, Z-suture of the inner fistula opening, fibrin glue instillation, and Z-suture of the outer fistula opening followed by post-operative antibiotic prophylaxis with ciprofloxacin and metronidazole for two weeks. Patients with a maximum of 2 fistula openings and no clinical or endosonographic signs of a complicated fistula were included. The primary end point was fistula healing, defined as macroscopic and clinical fistula closure and lack of patient reported fistula symptoms at 24 wk.RESULTSFistulodesis was performed in 17 non-IBD and 3 CD patients, with a total of 22 fistulae. After 24 wk, all fistulae were healed in 4 non-IBD and 2 CD patients (overall 30%) and fistula remained closed until the end of follow-up at 10-25 mo. In a secondary per-fistula analysis, 7 out of 22 fistulae (32%) were closed. Perianal disease activity index (PDAI) improved in patients with fistula healing. Low PDAI was associated with favorable outcome (P = 0.0013). No serious adverse events were observed.CONCLUSIONFistulodesis is feasible and safe for perianal fistula closure. Overall success rates is at 30% comparable to other similar techniques. A trend for better outcomes in patients with low PDAI needs to be confirmed.     

Surgical repair of vesicovaginal fistulae--a ten-year retrospective study.

OBJECTIVE: Vesicovaginal fistulae in the western world generally occur as complications to pelvic surgery or radiation therapy of pelvic cancers. We have reviewed our results of vesicovaginal fistula closure procedures over a 10-year period. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From 1985 to 1996, 55 patients were referred to our department due to vesicovaginal fistulae. Five patients had fistulae due to malignant recurrence and one patient was considered inoperable. Thus, 49 patients were operated on. Thirty patients had fistulae resulting from pelvic surgery. Nineteen of the 25 patients admitted with fistulae secondary to radiation therapy of pelvic cancers were operated on. RESULTS: Of the 30 patients with postoperative fistulae, 23 had an abdominal repair and 7 a vaginal repair. A success rate of 90% was achieved after a first closure procedure, as 3 patients within a month experienced a recurrence. These three recurrences were all successfully closed in a second operation, augmenting the success rate to 100% in this group of patients. In the group of patients with fistulae caused by irradiation, a urinary diversion was performed in 12 patients, and in 7 patients a primary attempt to close the fistula was made, either by an abdominal approach (2 patients) or by a vaginal approach (5 patients). The fistula recurred in 6 of these 7 patients. Despite several additional attempts to close the recurrent fistulae, only one patient was successfully operated on. CONCLUSION: It seems that vesicovaginal fistulae resulting from pelvic surgery, in our hands, can be managed successfully either by an abdominal or vaginal approach. For patients with vesicovaginal fistulae resulting from radiation therapy, a urinary diversion appears to be the method of choice.     

Surgical management of radiation enteropathy

Acute radiation enteropathy is usually self-limited and rarely requires surgical intervention. Chronic radiation enteropathy may occur months, years, or decades after treatment. Patients may present with crampy abdominal pain, diarrhea, or cachexia or may present acutely with bowel obstruction or fistula. The bowel and its mesentery are shortened, and mucosal ulceration and submucosal fibrosis are present. The vasculature of the bowel is markedly compromised by progressive endarteritis. Ideally, nutritional support should be given and surgery performed electively. Regardless of presentation, both large and small bowel must be evaluated for concurrent problems. At surgery, resection and restoration of continuity of the gastrointestinal tract is optimal management. Recurrent obstruction and fistulae are real risks, and optimal management is resection of bowel damaged by radiation and anastomosis using bowel spared from irradiation. However, if the patient is unstable or necessary dissection and mobilization of the bowel judged too morbid, bypass of the affected loop is acceptable. Occasionally, only diversion of the bowel by enterostomy is possible.     

Delayed presentation and successful repair of a recurrent vesicovaginal fistula after hysterectomy and primary abdominal repair

Urogenital fistulae are an uncommon consequence of gynecologic surgery. Vesicovaginal fistulae due to gynecologic surgery generally appear 1–6 weeks after surgery and recurrent fistulae within 3 months of their repair. The pathogenesis of vesicovaginal fistula formation remains unclear. We present the case of a 36-year-old woman with a spontaneously recurring vesicovaginal fistula 21 months after abdominal repair of a vesicovaginal fistula caused by a laparoscopic-assisted vaginal hysterectomy. During the repair of the fistula and excision of the vaginal cuff, two small fluid-filled cysts between the bladder mucosa and the vaginal epithelium were encountered. Vesicovaginal fistulae can occur spontaneously and remote from surgery. The finding of small fluid-filled cysts in the cuff suggests that rupture of a similar cyst may have led to the formation of the fistula. Abbreviations LAVH Laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy     

Vertebral arteriovenous fistulae. Report of two cases and review of the literature

Summary Two patients with vertebral arteriovenous fistulae were treated at the Neurosurgical Clinic of the City Hospital of Hannover between 1981 and 1988. Both patients were males, 19 and 29 year old. The fistulae were secondary to cervical gunshot wounds. Both patients complained of a loud cephalic noise; 1 patient had a non pulsating neck mass. A systolic cervical bruit was heard in both cases. One patient had an incomplete mid-cervical Brown-Sequard syndrome. The fistulae involved the second portion of the vertebral artery; 1 fistula was fed, in addition to the vertebral artery, by the deep cervical artery. Venous drainage was through intraspinal plexus, vertebral vein, deep cervical veins and internal jugular vein. One patient was treated with a direct surgical trapping of the vertebral artery proximal and distal to the fistula; the other patient, in addition to direct surgical vertebral artery trapping, received an endovascular balloon occlusion of the deep cervical artery. After treatment the fistulae disappeared, both clinically and angiographically.Dr. Mario Ammirati is a recipient of a fellowship from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, Bonn, FRG.     

Ulcerative tracheo-oesophageal fistula during treatment by tracheostomy and intermittent positive pressure ventilation

Forty-four collected cases of ulcerative tracheo-oesophageal fistula following tracheostomy and assisted ventilation are reviewed. The condition followed this form of treatment in 0·5% of cases and must be distinguished from fistulae caused by accident or surgery, and also from laryngotracheal paralysis or dysfunction. The symptomatology, diagnosis, and treatment are discussed in detail. Spontaneous cure of fistulae is rare, and operative closure should be the aim. In one patient in six, surgical closure is excluded by rapid death. When surgery is possible its timing requires critical judgement. Factors requiring assessment are the condition of the patient and of the tissues around the fistula, the necessity to continue assisted ventilation, and the ability to control nutrition, tracheal aspiration from the mouth or stomach, and pulmonary infection. The mortality of those who did not die too rapidly to receive treatment was 61% without surgery and 45·5% with surgery.     

Bacteriology of anal fistulae.

Anal fistulae are said to arise from cryptoglandular infection of the anal glands, which lie within the intersphincteric space. The type and virulence of the micro-organism responsible may determine whether an anal fistula develops. The microbiology of chronic anal fistulae has not been reported previously. Twenty-five consecutive anal fistulae were studied prospectively (eight intersphincteric fistulae, 12 trans-sphincteric fistulae, two suprasphincteric fistulae, one extrasphincteric fistula, one superficial fistula, one anovaginal fistula). There were 18 men and seven women, with a median age of 42 (range 22-71) years. Patients with Crohn's disease or acute anorectal suppuration were excluded. In 18 patients, 0.1 ml granulation tissue from the track of the fistula was obtained and processed within 4 h using standard microbiological techniques. Sixty-nine isolates representing at least 17 species were obtained. The predominant organisms were Escherichia coli (22 per cent), Enterococcus spp. (16 per cent) and Bacteroides fragilis (20 per cent). The majority of the growths were obtained only from enrichment. Bacteria from only one patient grew at a dilution of 10(3). Granulation tissue from 25 patients was processed for mycobacterial culture, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis was grown from one patient. No other mycobacterium was isolated. The chronic inflammation in anal fistulae does not seem to be maintained by either excessive numbers of organisms or organisms of an unusual type.     

Short and long-term results of the treatment of vesicovaginal fistula by the vaginal approach (author's transl)

Gynecologists prefer the vaginal route for closure of vesicovaginal fistulae. Urologists, however, have some doubts as to the long-term results as far as proper function is concerned. The purpose of this investigation was to discover the limits of the vaginal fistula operations with reference to patients at the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Erlangen-Nürnberg. From 1962 to 1976, 40 women with vesicovaginal, urethrovaginal and vesicocervicovaginal fistulae were treated. Forty-five operations were necessary. In one patient, surgery in two sessions was planned from the beginning. Besides 4 obstetric fistulae, gynecological operations were the original cause of the fistulae in 34 cases. Two women had actinic fistulae (overdosage of intracavitary radium application). Attempts to close the fistulae here failed utterly. The Latzko technique was used in 27 women. Füth's method, in 7. In the remaining cases various vaginal procedures were chosen, for example, interposition of the bulbocavernosus muscle or interposition of the uterus. Three late complecations with recess formation (in 2 cases with concrements) after the Latzko operation could be treated trans-urethrally. Ten years after a Füth's operation one patient had to undergo vaginal surgery for an urethral diverticulum with concrement. The precedure of choice in the typical post-hysterectomy fistula is the Latzko operation. For fistulae patients who still have a uterus, other vaginal procedures are preferable. No attempt should be made to close a radiogenic fistula--usually following inadequate radiation therapy--by a vaginal operation. Details of our indications are fully dealt with in the discussion.     

Difficult fistulae

Fistula in ano is a common disorder. The goals of treatment are to cure the fistula with minimal loss of sphincter function and with minimal healing time. Fortunately about 90% of fistulae are simple and obey Goodsall's rule. These fistulae are easily treated by the "lay-open" technique. Treatment can however become much more difficult with increasing complexity of fistula tracks, higher internal opening with major sphincter involvement, atypical and secondary tracks or at recurrence. Understanding of the anatomy and the pathogenesis of fistulae is mandatory to identify the fistula tracks and the internal opening and to tailor the treatment accordingly. Endoanal flap repairs and the use of setons are most widely accepted for the treatment of difficult fistulae but many other options exist. Underlying factors or associated diseases such as inflammatory bowel, AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases, carcinoma, radiotherapy, hidroadenitis or other obscure infections may influence the final outcome and often demand a specific approach.     

Vesicovaginal fistula

Urinary fistula to the vagina has been described since the beginning of the written record. In developed nations, these fistulas are usually unfortunate complications of gynecologic or other pelvic surgery and radiotherapy. Historically, birth trauma accounted for most vesicovaginal fistulas, and it remains the major cause of urinary fistulas in many underdeveloped nations. Once a vesicovaginal fistula is suspected, a thorough vaginal examination should be performed to identify its size and location, especially in relation to the trigone and eliminate a ureterovaginal fistula which can be associated in up to 10% of cases. Numerous methods for the treatment of vesicovaginal fistulae have been described. Abdominal, and vaginal approaches are used for the repair of vesicovaginal fistulae. The approach selected is dependent on many factors, but is probably best determined by the experience and training of the surgeon. The techniques of the vaginal approach involve tension-free closure of the fistula with or without excision of the tract, creation of an anterior vaginal wall flap and appropriate use of vascularized interposition grafts. The abdominal approach may be used to treat all types of vesicovaginal fistulae and is the preferred approach when concomittant ureteral reimplantation is required. Postoperative care is similar for both vaginal and abdominal vesicovaginal fistula repair. Adequate uninterrupted bladder drainage is the most critical aspect of postoperative management. A voiding cystourethrogram is performed at 10 postoperative days to confirm closure of the fistula.     

Acute pancreatitis and pancreatic fistula formation

The cause, management and outcome of 23 patients with a pancreatic fistula following acute pancreatitis are reviewed. Nineteen patients developed an external fistula following necrosectomy or drainage of a pancreatic abscess or pseudocyst; four of these patients died. In the 15 survivors spontaneous closure occurred in 11 cases with low output fistulae; operative intervention was needed in the four cases with high output fistulae. Four patients with internal fistulae had not undergone previous surgery; two of them had a pancreaticopleural fistula with associated pancreaticogastric fistulae, while two had pancreatic ascites. All four of these patients required surgical intervention and one died.