What are the predisposing factors and conditions that maintain patency of a fistula?
The acronym “HIS FRIEND”:
- High output fistula (>500 cc/day)
- Intestinal destruction (>50% of circumference)
- Short-segment fistula <2.5 cm
- Foreign body (e.g., G-tube)
- Radiation
- Infection
- Epithelialization (e.g., colostomy)
- Neoplasm
- Distal obstruction