An alternative negative pressure treatment for enteroatmospheric fistula resulting from small intestinal leakage caused by incision dehiscence

BACKGROUND: To investigate the efficacy of an alternative negative pressure treatment for the treatment of enteroatmospheric fistula transformed from small intestinal leakage due to incision dehiscence after abdominal surgery. METHODS: Patients with an enteroatmospheric fistula from small intestinal leakage owing to incision dehiscence following abdominal surgery between January 2010 and December 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: A total of 83 patients (mean age: 38.3 ± 11.6 years; Body mass index: 19.9 ± 2.2 kg/m(2)) were enrolled. Of the 83 patients, 59 (71.1 %) achieved fistula closure. High-output fistula (Hazard ratio = 0.48; 95 % Confidence interval: 0.29–0.81; P = 0.006) and abdominal wall thickness >2 cm (Hazard ratio = 2.76; 95 % Confidence interval: 1.35–5.67; P = 0.006) were identified as factors affecting fistula closure. Lastly, 11/83 (13.3 %) patients exhibited re-dehiscence. CONCLUSION: Appropriately applying the alternative negative pressure treatment may enable fistula closure in patients with enteroatmospheric fistula resulting from small intestinal leakage caused by incision dehiscence.