Gastrocolic Fistula Presented as an Early Complication of Gastric Surgery in a 42-year-old Man

Abstract

Currently, surgery is less needed for the treatment of refractory peptic ulcer disease (PUD) or
its complications. So, the complications of PUD surgery have been clearly declined. Here in,
we present a 42-year-old man with chronic watery diarrhea and significant weight loss during
2 years after gastrojejunostomy for the treatment of obstructive PUD. Small bowel gastrointestinal series showed rapid transit without passage of contrast in the parts of small bowel. The patient was scheduled for exploratory laparotomy. During the surgery a large fistula was detected between the stomach and transverse colon, which was repaired. At the follow-up 6 months after the surgery, the patient did not have any history of recurrence of diarrhea and had 10 kg weight gain. Gastrocolic fistula is a very rare complication of surgical management of PUD.
Barium enema is the most helpful imaging procedure for the diagnosis of gastrocolic fistula and
surgery after correction of nutritional status is suggested especially for malnourished patients.