Management of gastrointestinal fistulas: a case study.(Focus On Wound Care) From: MedSurg Nursing | Date: February 1, 2005| Author: Pontieri-Lewis, Vittoria | COPYRIGHT 2005 Jannetti Publications, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan.  All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group.Copyright information

A fistula is an abnormal passage between the lumen of a hollow viscous organ and another hollow organ or the skin (Yamada, Alpers, Laine, Owyang, & Powell, 2003). Fistulas located in the abdomen are classified by the origin site and termination, volume of output, and the etiology. Gastrointestinal (GI) fistulas can be a very complex problem for nurses and the health care team to manage. Development of a fistula can lead to a cascade of events that become challenging to the health c...