Published online Apr 14, 2019. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v25.i14.1775
Peer-review started: February 18, 2019
First decision: February 26, 2019
Revised: March 7, 2019
Accepted: March 16, 2019
Article in press: March 16, 2019
Published online: April 14, 2019
Open abdomen (OA) has been generally accepted for its magnificent superiority and effectiveness in patients with severe trauma, severe intra-abdominal infection, and abdominal compartment syndrome. In the meantime, OA calls for a mass of nursing and the subsequent enteroatomospheric fistula (EAF), which is one of the most common complications of OA therapy, remains a thorny challenge.
Our team applied thermoplastic polyurethane as a befitting material for producing a 3D-printed “fistula stent” in the management of an EAF patient, who was initially admitted to local hospital because of abdominal pain and distension and diagnosed with bowel obstruction. After a series of operations and OA therapy, the patient developed an EAF.
Application of this novel “fistula stent” resulted in a drastic reduction in the amount of lost enteric effluent and greatly accelerated rehabilitation processes.
Core tip: Few methods can be utilized to control enteroatomospheric fistulas (EAFs) which are unlikely to achieve spontaneous closure. The 3D-printed “fistula stent” presented here can be implanted to close EAF in the early stage of open abdomen. We think that this report could start the train of thought for plugging EAF to reduce the lost enteric effluent as well as avoid water electrolyte imbalance, corrosion on the wound surface, and intra-abdominal infection.