Endoscopic Treatment of Intestinal Fistulas and Perforations

Novel endoscopic devices have the potential to overcome the need for invasive surgery for the treatment of gastrointestinal fistulas or perforations. Instead of a large abdominal incision or multiple incisions with the related postoperative morbidity endoscopic techniques will be used used which require no postoperative limitation of activities. Using novel tissue closure devices, such as a Tissue Apposition System or an endoscopic suturing system, we will evaluate the potential benefit, risks and impact on the patient's quality of life of this modified surgical technique in patients having either chronic gastrointestinal fistulas or acute perforations.