Improving outcome in patients of high output small bowel fistula.

Early and effective control of sepsis is the most important factor determining the outcome in patients with enterocutaneous fistulae (ECF). From a retrospective analysis of the hospital records (published data), ongoing contamination of the peritoneal cavity by the faecal stream was the most important factor leading to sepsis and occurred in 75% of patients. The mortality figure in patients with high-output ECF was 54.