Treatment of postoperative enterocutaneous fistulas with octreotide in two neonates.

Enterocutaneous fistula (EF) in newborns and prematures is a well-recognized complication after necrotizing enterocolitis and other abdominal surgical procedures. Conservative management consists of bowel rest, antibiotics, wound care, and the administration of drugs that either reduce gastrointestinal motility or secretions. Octreotide decreases gastrointestinal secretions, inhibits or blocks the effects of gastrointestinal hormones, diminishes gut motility and thus reduces the flow through the fistula. We used octreotide and were able to report successful spontaneous closure of a fistula in our 2 neonatal patients, one a premature neonate with necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and the other with meconium peritonitis.