Objective To trace and review the treatment of complex anal fistula so as to consider whether current procedures and therapies might offer a better choice. Methods Through the literature collected, with the difficulties and contradictions of the treatment of complex anal fistula as the starting point, the currently widely used seton management, the development and deficiency of biological therapy and sphincter preserving surgery, and the change of treatment model of complex anal fistula were reviewed. The research progress and application prospect of intersphincteric fistula ligation was focus attented. Results The treatment of complex anal fistula would be not too much emphasis of healing or radical cure, and more attention to the anus function, shape, fine feeling, and quality of life, has become a consensus. The seton management remained an useful therapy for the treatment of complicated anal fistula through continuous improvement and development, in despite of it has postoperative relapse or mild to moderate anal incontinence. Biotherapy relied on its minimal invasion rising in recent years especially at abroad, but it is limited wider application in China because of its high cost, unstable efficacy, and high recurrence rate. Sphincter-preserving operation always attracts attentions particularly under the background of invasive treatment. It has been already established about efficacy and security of the ligation of intersphincteric fistula tract as a novel procedure, which possessed an excellent advantage for protecting anal continence. Conclusion The ligation of intersphincteric fistula tract is a promising procedure, which tends to be superior than fistulotomy and seton management, may become a first-line treatment of complex anal fistula.
ObjectiveTo explore the clinical efficacy and safety of ligation of intersphincteric fistula tract in the treatment of high simple anal fistula.MethodsA prospective collection of 72 patients diagnosed with high simple anal fistula, who admitted to the department of the author’s hospital between March 2015 and December 2017 was performed, and then the patients were divided into two groups according to the random number table method combined with the patients’ wishes: the ligation of intersphincteric fistula tract group (experimental group, 32 cases) and the low incision and high hanging group (control group, 40 cases). Comparison of indexes on the operative effect and physiological function of the sphincter in six months after operation was performed.ResultsCompared with the control group, the patients in the experimental group had short postoperative pain duration, short postoperative wound healing time, high cure rate, low recurrence rate, low initial sensory threshold, high anal resting pressure, and long anal high pressure band length, with statistically significant differences (P<0.05). However, there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in the operation time, anal maximal contractive pressure, and rectal resting pressure (P>0.05). The results suggested that the physiological function of anus in the experimental group recovered well.ConclusionThe ligation of intersphincteric fistula tract is a safe and reliable method in the treatment of high simple anal fistula, which can be widely used in the clinic.
ObjectiveTo observe the effect of modified ligation of intersphincteric fistula tract (LIFT) combined with acellular anal fistula repair matrix packing in the treatment of high anal fistula, and to evaluate its clinical efficacy and safety.MethodsAll 86 patients who met the diagnostic criteria of high anal fistula in Beijing Anorectal Hospital from October 2018 to August 2019 were selected and randomly divided into observation group and control group. The observation group was treated with modified LIFT combined with acellular anal fistula repair matrix tamponade, while the control group was treated with traditional low incision and high thread drawing surgery. The curative effect, wound healing time, postoperative pain score, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative complications, hospitalization time, patient satisfaction and recurrence at 6 months after operation were compared between the two groups.ResultsThe effective rate of the observation group was 92.9% (39/42), and that of the control group was 86.4% (38/44), there was no significant difference between the two groups (Z=−1.251, P=0.211). The healing time of the observation group and the control group were (24.8±8.5) days and (32.1±10.9) days, respectively, the difference was statistically significant (t=3.472, P<0.001). Compared with the control group, the observation group had less intraoperative blood loss, less postoperative pain and shorter hospital stay (P<0.05). There was no anal incontinence after operation in the two groups, and the incidence of postoperative complications such as bloody stool, anal border edema and urinary retention were lower in the observation group (11.9%) compared with the control group (31.8%), with a statistically significant difference (P<0.05). The treatment satisfaction of the observation group was 90.5%, and that of the control group was 81.8%. There was no significant difference between the two groups (Z=−1.284, P>0.05).ConclusionModified LIFT combined with acellular anal fistula repair matrix in the treatment of high anal fistula has the advantages of small trauma, quick recovery and low incidence of complications.