Background
Surgical complications invoke dread in both patients and physicians alike. They represent one of the most serious types of morbidity and at times may result in mortality. Negatively affecting the quality of life and wellbeing of our patients, these complications contribute substantially to increased costs of healthcare. One of the most feared surgical complications, due to the difficulty in treating and the profoundly negative impact on patient quality of life, is the enterocutaneous fistula (ECF); the incidence of which varies based on the type of operation, patient comorbidities and the expertise of the surgical team. Although the incidence of the ECF is relatively low in most reported series, when such complications arise, it is critical that their identification, cause and treatment be clearly elucidated so as to reduce the likelihood of similar complications in the future.