Effective and long-term outcome following ligation of the intersphincteric fistula tract (LIFT) for transsphincteric fistula.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and long-term outcome of the ligation of the intersphincteric fistula tract (LIFT) procedure for transsphincteric fistula-in-ano. METHODS: A total of 43 patients that were treated with LIFT procedure and had a follow-up time of more than 1 year were included. RESULTS: The median age was 37.18 years, and 32 (74.4%) of the patients were male. The median follow-up time was 26.2 months (range 13-63 months). There were 29 (67.4%) uncomplicated transsphincteric fistulas, 10 (23.3%) horseshoe transsphincteric fistulas, and 4 (9.3%) multiple fistulas. Eight (18.5%) patients presented with dehiscence or infection at the intersphincteric wound and were successfully treated with either laying open (n = 5) or local application of silver nitrate (n = 3). The success rate, as determined from the last follow-up time point, was 83.7% (36/43). The mean time to complete failure was 8.6 weeks (range 1-28) in 7 patients. With the exception of these 7 patients, 32/36 (88.9%) patients had a Cleveland Clinic Florida Faecal incontinence score of 0, 3 patients had a score of 1, and 1 had a score of 2. No significant association was found between laying open and incontinence in these partial failure patients. CONCLUSION: The LIFT procedure can be considered an effective sphincter-sparing procedure in the management of transsphincteric fistula with an acceptable long-term outcome.

Long-term outcome of infliximab combined with surgery for perianal fistulizing Crohn's disease.

AIM: To evaluate the efficacy and long-term outcome of infliximab combined with surgery to treat perianal fistulizing Crohn's disease (CD). METHODS: The work was performed as a prospective study. All patients received infliximab combined with surgery to treat perianal fistulizing CD, which was followed by an immunosuppressive agent as maintenance therapy. RESULTS: A total of 28 patients with perianal fistulizing CD were included. At week 30, 89.3% (25/28) of the patients were clinically cured with an average healing time of 31.4 d. The CD activity index decreased to 70.07±77.54 from 205.47±111.13 (P<0.01) after infliximab treatment. The perianal CD activity index was decreased to 0.93±2.08 from 8.54±4.89 (P<0.01). C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, platelets, and neutrophils all decreased significantly compared with the pretreatment levels (P<0.01). Magnetic resonance imaging results for 16 patients after therapy showed that one patient had a persistent presacral-rectal fistula and another still had a cavity without clinical symptoms at follow-up. After a median follow-up of 26.4 mo (range: 14-41 mo), 96.4% (27/28) of the patients had a clinical cure. CONCLUSION: Infliximab combined with surgery is effective and safe in the treatment of perianal fistulizing CD, and this treatment was associated with better long-term outcomes.

[Efficacy of infliximab combined with surgery in the treatment of perianal fistulizing Crohn disease].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of infliximab combined with surgery in the treatment of perianal fistulizing Crohn disease (CD). METHODS: Clinical data of 15 patients with perianal fistulizing CD receiving infliximab combined with surgery in the Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine from March 2010 to June 2011 were analyzed retrospectively. One week after operation, all the patients received infliximab infusion thrice at weeks 0, 2, and 6. Crohn disease activity index (CDAI), perianal Crohn disease activity index (PDAI), body mass index (BMI), routine blood test and endoscopy were evaluated at week 0, 14. Adverse reactions and healing time were recorded. RESULTS: At week 14, the response rate was 100% with 86.7% (13/15) complete responders. One patient had local improvement and one developed recurrent fistula. The mean healing time was 32.5 (20-45) d. Anorectal stenosis in 4 patients was significantly improved. At week 14, CDAI decreased to 114.0±90.3 from 230.5±97.5 after IFX treatment. PCDAI decreased to 2.8±3.2 from 9.9±3.4, and BMI increased to (21.5±3.0)kg/m(2) from (19.1±3.1)kg/m(2). C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), platelet and neutrophil were significantly decreased from baseline (all P<0.01). Intestinal mucosa healed completely in one patient. There were no serious adverse events except hypokalemia in one patient and severe infusion reaction in another. CONCLUSION: Infliximab combined with surgery is effective and safe for perianal fistulizing CD.

Retrorectal tumors in adults: magnetic resonance imaging findings.

AIM: To retrospectively evaluate the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of adult retrorectal tumors and compare with histopathologic findings. METHODS: MRI features of 21 patients with preoperative suspicion of retrorectal tumors were analyzed based on the histopathological and clinical data. RESULTS: Fourteen benign cystic lesions appeared hypointense on T1-weighted images, and hyperintense on T2-weighted images with regular peripheral rim. Epidermoid or dermoid cysts were unilocular, and tailgut cysts were multilocular. Presence of intracystic intermediate signal intensity was observed in one case of tailgut cyst with a component of adenocarcinoma. Six solid tumors were malignant lesions and showed heterogeneous intensity on MRI. Mucinous adenocarcinomas showed high signal intensity on T2-weighted and mesh-like enhancing areas on fat-suppressed T2-weighted images. There was a fistula between the mass and anus with an internal opening in mucinous adenocarcinomas arising from anal fistula. Gastrointestinal stromal tumors displayed low signal intensity on T1-weighted images, and intermediate to high signal intensity on T2-weighted images. Central necrosis could be seen as a high signal on T2-weighted images. CONCLUSION: MRI is a helpful technique to define the extent of the retrorectal tumor and its relationship to the surrounding structures, and also to demonstrate possible complications so as to choose the best surgical approach.

Perianal mucinous adenocarcinoma arising from chronic anorectal fistulae: a review from single institution.

BACKGROUND: Mucinous adenocarcinoma arising from a chronic anorectal fistula is rare, with few reports in the literature. Such lesions can be misdiagnosed for the more common benign perianal abscess or fistula. METHODS: From our retrospective chart review, we identified three patients with chronic perianal fistula-in-ano who were subsequently found to have developed perianal mucinous adenocarcinoma on biopsy. We recorded the symptomatology, subsequent management and further follow-up of each patient. RESULTS: Two of three patients who received irradiation and chemotherapy were still alive during 28 and 24 months of follow-up, respectively without any evidence of distant metastasis. One patient with inguinal lymph node metastases died due to distant metastasis 6 months after diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: Fistula-associated perianal mucinous adenocarcinoma is an uncommon malignant transformation of chronic fistula-in-ano. MRI can provide important diagnostic information on patient with this suspicious inflammatory condition. Although radical resection of the tumour with abdominoperineal resection remains the surgical treatment of choice. Combined chemoradiotherapy may be appropriate for these patients with promising results.

[Application of magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnosis of complex anal fistula].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the value of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the diagnosis of complex anal fistula. METHODS: The preoperative digital examination and MRI with the phased-array coil were implemented for 28 patients who were clinically suspected with complex anal fistula. The final diagnosis were based on surgical findings. Outcomes of MRI and digital examination were compared with surgical results. RESULTS: Twenty-five patients were diagnosed as complex anal fistula, 1 presacral cyst and 2 chronic anorectal fistula combined with perianal mucinous adenocarcinoma. All the patients were correctly diagnosed by MRI,while the patients with presacral cyst and perianal mucinous adenocarcinoma could not be diagnosed correctly by digital examination. According to the Parks classification, 3 patients were suffered from trans-sphincteric fistula, 10 intersphincteric, 5 supra- sphincteric and 7 extra-sphincteric. The diagnosis rates of the internal opening with digital examination and MRI were 48% and 84%, the rates of the primary tract were 76% and 100%, and the rates of the secondary extensions were 57.9% and 94.7% respectively. The differences in detection of internal opening, primary tract and secondary extensions between MRI and digital examination were significant (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: MRI with the phased-array coil can correctly orient the internal opening and direction of the complex anal fistula, and find the relationship between anorectal sphincters and the complex fistula.