Healing enterocutaneous fistulas using bioengineered biomaterials

Narrative Enterocutaneous fistula (ECF) is an abnormal connection between the bowel and skin. It can be associated with discharge of pus, feces, and stomach contents and can even lead to incontinence. The foul enteric contents act as a chemical irritant to the skin, leading to skin breakdown and predisposition to infection. The current treatment paradigm is unsuccessful; high fistula discharge, infection, and chronic inflammation lead to high failure and recurrence rates. We aim to offer a solution in the treatment of potentially fatal ECF using a minimally invasive blood derived biomaterial-based platform to occlude the fistulous tract using groundbreaking injectable shear- thinning biomaterials with anti-microbial and regenerative properties.