Mucous Fistula Refeeding Reduces the Time From Enterostomy Closure to Full Enteral Feeds ("MUC-FIRE" Trial)

Enterostomies in children may be created for different reasons. During the presence of an enterostomy the regular stool transfer is interrupted as the distal part of the bowel (the part following the enterostomy) does not participate in the circulation of stool. Therefore it does not contribute to the resorption of enteral contents. As a consequence these children need additional parenteral nutrition. Due to the negative side-effects of parenteral nutrition all patients should return to enteral nutrition as soon as possible. Consequently, many pediatric surgical centers worldwide routinely perform mucous fistula refeeding (MFR) into the former unused bowel after enterostomy creation because case reports and retrospective analyses show low complication rates and faster postoperative weight gain. Several providers, however, shy away from this approach because to date there is still no high quality evidence for the benefit of this Treatment.The aim of this study is to assess the effects of mucous fistula refeeding in a randomized, prospective trial. We hypothesize that MFR between enterostomy creation and enterostomy closure reduces the time to full enteral feeds after enterostomy closure compared to the group without refilling. Moreover, the side effects of parenteral nutrition may be reduced and the postoperative hospital care of infants undergoing ostomy closure shortened.