A situation that can be devastating to a patient as well as tax to the utmost the skill of a surgeon is that of a viscerocutaneous fistula. These fistulas can be of relatively short duration and present little or no problems, an example being the removal of a T tube after common-duct exploration. As opposed to this situation is a lateral duodenal fistula, which can present innumerable problems. This latter type is treated mainly by the protection of the skin surrounding the fistulous orifice and the replacement of fluids and electrolytes.
Source: wiktionary