Doctors may prescribe enteral diets to those with fistulas in the small or large intestines. When a person is on an enteral diet, they will consume only liquid food for a period. They may require a feeding tube. This type of diet ensures one receives all the nutrients they need without taking in any solid food, thus reducing the amount of stool passing through the intestines and rectum. With this treatment, the fistula has a chance to heal and may even close on its own.

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