Gastrointestinal fistulae can be one of the most challenging complications of intestinal disease to manage. These abnormal tracts connect the epithelialised gut surface to either another part of the gut, another organ or tissue, or to the skin (table 1). This connection can cause enteric contents to bypass important absorptive surfaces, resulting in insidious malnutrition or overt diarrhoea, infection within other organs or the exquisitely embarrassing occurrence of having faeculant material in a woman’s vagina or on a person’s skin. Understandably, this can have a major impact on a person’s quality of life and psychological wellbeing and hamper overall prognosis in terms of general health and wellbeing. Through careful multidisciplinary management of the situation much can be done to address the fears and expectations of patients: careful stoma management, medical therapies to control output, nutritional support and consideration of the central role that surgery plays in resolving a fistula.

Ostomy management refers to the care and maintenance of an ostomy and involves various aspects to ensure the individual’s health, comfort, and quality of life. This should involve the patient, a close support system (family and/or friends), and a healthcare team, including ostomy nurses and healthcare professionals specialising in ostomy care.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) comprises chronic, progressive, lifelong, and currently incurable disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, which may also be associated with the development of colorectal dysplasia and cancer. However, technological improvements in disease management and malignancy screening over recent decades have enabled earlier detection of precancerous lesions and timely resection of premalignant lesions or even localised malignant lesions, resulting in improved patient outcomes. Here, we discuss mistakes encountered in the screening of dysplastic and malignant lesions when managing patients with IBD. Based on our clinical experience and an evidence-based approach, we present nine common mistakes and how to avoid them.

Pancreatic exocrine insufficiency (PEI) is a common yet frequently under-recognised cause of maldigestion, malabsorption, and malnutrition. Although traditionally associated with primary pancreatic disorders such as chronic pancreatitis, cystic fibrosis, pancreatic cancer, or pancreatic surgery, it is now evident that PEI also occurs in a wide range of extra-pancreatic conditions and clinical settings. Advances in diagnostic testing and expanding clinical awareness have improved detection; however, significant misconceptions persist regarding when to suspect PEI; how to interpret diagnostic tests; and how to initiate, optimise, and monitor pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT). In everyday practice, these errors may lead to delayed diagnosis, inappropriate treatment, persistent symptoms, and preventable nutritional deficiencies. This “Mistakes in…” article highlights common pitfalls in the diagnosis and management of PEI, focusing on inappropriate reliance on faecal elastase testing, failure to recognise secondary causes, undertreatment with PERT, and inadequate nutritional assessment. By addressing these frequent mistakes, we aim to promote a more structured, patient-centred, and evidence-informed approach to PEI that improves clinical outcomes and quality of life.