Colonic fistula complicating electric burns--a case report.

Intestinal fistula is an uncommon complication of electric burns. The authors report the case of an 11-year-old child who sustained accidental burns from a high-voltage electric current and was admitted to their hospital with full-thickness burns of both the upper limbs and deep burns of the anterior abdominal wall. Staged surgery was required, and the authors were involved in the management of the burn of the anterior abdominal wall. Laparotomy was done because omentum was found prolapsing out of the abdominal wound. Three scattered areas of subserosal burn of the small bowel were noticed, which required no intervention. The rest of the viscera all were normal. During the course of his stay, he had a fecal fistula on the 19th postburn day, which was found to be from the transverse colon. Conservative management of the fistula with total parenteral nutrition for 23 days resulted in complete healing.