Ileovesical fistula. Failure of T.P.N. role of oral 14C PEG (polyethylene glycol) and charcoal in diagnosis.

A patient with regional enteritis presenting with symptoms of fecaluria and pneumaturia is presented. Most of the established technics such as upper gastrointestinal series, cystography, cystoscopy and colonoscopy failed to demonstrate the fistula in this patient. 14C PEG as a nonabsorbable marker was given by mouth and a seven-fold increase in the counts at the fourth hour of urine collection confirmed the presence of an ileovesical fistula. This increase in counts was not seen when 14C PEG test was repeated after closure of this fistula surgically and was also not seen in a similar disease control patient and a healthy normal volunteer. Total parenteral nutrition with intralipids, Freamine II and glucose given in a peripheral vein for 45 days failed to close this fistula.