An enteroatmospheric fistula (EAF) is a hole between the gastrointestinal tract and an unhealed wound, and thus the open air. Between 1,000 and 4,000 cases occur annually in the United States, with a mortality rate of over 40%. EAF leak interstitial fluid into the wound, which hampers the healing process. Current methods to heal the abdominal wounds surrounding EAF are time consuming to install and don’t last long. This fistula isolation device is easy to install, stays in place once installed thanks to the silicone microbeads that fill it, and allows fluid to flow out of the body without irritating the wound bed.
Project tags
Student team
Kenza Coubrough
Brennan Enright
Brianna Goodwin
Nhu Nguyen
Mentoring team
Nancy Unger, NP (Wound Ostomy)
JoAnn D Whitney, PhD (Nursing)
Sam Arbabi, MD (Critical Care)
Year
Continuing project
No