Challenges encountered in placement of ostomy bag for palliative care in a patient with colorectal cancer

Fecal fistula develop in patients with cancer associated with difficult management situation, which is often complicated by prior treatment including surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. Affecting factors such as timing of additional adjuvant therapy or palliative care, technical considerations for operating on irradiated bowel, poor wound healing, increased risk of additional fecal fistula, and decreased likelihood of spontaneous fecal fistula closure all need to be considered in this scenario. Here, the authors focus specifically on the management of fecal fistula associated with cancer and/or radiation- induced injury to the bowel.