Efficacy and safety of transanal opening of intersphincteric space in the treatment of high complex anal fistula: A meta­analysis.

The best treatment of high complex anal fistula (HCAF) is to avoid anal incontinence while improving the cure rate. On this basis, several surgical procedures for preserving the anal sphincter have been proposed. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of transanal opening of intersphincteric space for treating HCAF. PubMed, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure and the Wanfang databases were searched to collate all the articles on transanal opening of intersphincteric space for treating HCAF. A total of two researchers independently completed the whole process, from screening and inclusion to data extraction and the data was included in the RevMan 5.3 software for analysis. The main outcomes included the patients' essential characteristics, primary healing rate, management after recurrence, final healing rate, anal incontinence score before and after surgery, postoperative complication rate and types of complications. A total of six articles were included in this meta-analysis. The results showed that the weighted final healing rate of patients following transanal opening of intersphincteric space was 89% [risk differences (RD)=0.89; 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.86-0.92; I2=0%; P<0.00001]. The results of the anal incontinence score showed that there was no significant difference between the results before and after transanal opening of intersphincteric space surgery mean differences [(MD)=-0.04, Cl=-0.10-0.02, I2=0%; P=0.21]. Only 11 patients were reported to have complications, including urinary retention and bleeding following transanal opening of intersphincteric space with a complication rate of 8% (11/138) and the weighted average complication rate was 6% (RD=0.06,95% CI=0.02-0.10; I2=9%; P=0.003). Transanal opening of intersphincteric space has a high cure rate, a favorable anal incontinence score, fewer types of postoperative complications and a low complication rate; it can be used as a minimally invasive and sphincter-preserving surgical method for treating HCAF and is worthy of further promotion and research in clinical practice.

Effects of loose combined cutting seton surgery on wound healing and pain in patients with high anal fistula: A meta-analysis.

A meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the effects of loose combined cutting seton surgery on wound healing and pain in patients with high anal fistula, aiming to provide evidence-based medical evidence for surgical method selection for these patients. A comprehensive computerized search of PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, Wanfang and China National Knowledge Infrastructure databases was conducted to collect all relevant studies published up to November 2023, evaluating the effects of loose combined cutting seton surgery in treating patients with high anal fistulas. Two researchers independently screened, extracted data, and assessed the quality of the identified studies. RevMan 5.4 software was employed for data analysis. Overall, 16 articles were included, comprising 1124 patients, with 567 undergoing loose combined cutting seton surgery and 557 undergoing simple cutting seton surgery. The analysis revealed patients undergoing loose combined cutting seton surgery had a higher rate of postoperative wound healing (97.44% vs. 81.69%, odds ratio [OR]: 7.49, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 4.29-13.10, p < 0.00001), shorter wound healing time (standardized mean differences [SMD]: -1.48, 95% CI: -1.89 to -1.08, p < 0.00001), lower postoperative wound pain scores (SMD: -2.51, 95% CI: -3.51 to -1.51, p < 0.00001), and a lower rate of postoperative complications (3.43% vs. 20.83%, OR: 0.13, 95% CI: 0.05-0.31, p < 0.00001). The current evidence suggests that compared to simple cutting seton surgery, loose combined cutting seton surgery in treating high anal fistulas can promote postoperative wound healing, shorten wound healing time, alleviate pain, and reduce the incidence of postoperative complications, making it a worthy clinical practice for widespread application.

Simplified dressing change after surgery for high anal fistula: A prospective, single centre randomized controlled study on loose combined cutting seton (LCCS) technique.

BACKGROUND: Dressing change is the most important part of postoperative wound care. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether a more effective, simple and less painful method of dressing change for anal fistulas could be found without the need for debridement and packing. Data related to postoperative recovery were recorded at postoperative days 3, 7, 14, 21 and 180. METHODS: In this experiment, 76 subjects diagnosed with high anal fistula were randomly divided into a simplified dressing change (SDC) group and a traditional debridement dressing change(TDDC) group according to a ratio of 1:1. RESULTS: The SDC group had significantly fewer pain scores, bleeding rates, dressing change times, inpatient days and lower average inpatient costs than the TDDC group. There were no significant differences in wound healing time, area and depth and Wexner score between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Studies have shown that the use of simplified dressing changes does not affect cure or recurrence rates, but significantly reduces dressing change times and pain during changes, reducing patient inpatient length of stay and costs.

Evaluation of the Cutting Seton Technique in Treating High Anal Fistula.

Objectives Fistula-in-ano is a common condition that negatively affects the quality of life of its sufferers. A high anal fistula poses a significant challenge for surgeons due to its proximity to the anorectal ring and the potential risk of incontinence rather than recurrence. Many modalities have been used in a justified search for a satisfactory cure for the condition, but the seton remains a mainstay of surgical treatment. Therefore, the rationale of this study is to assess the outcome of treating a high anal fistula using the cutting seton technique in a hospital in Al Madinah, Saudi Arabia. The evaluation is intended through a retrospective analysis of patients' outcomes, comparing its effectiveness to similar articles. Methods This is a retrospective study that includes 50 patients with high anal fistulas who were treated with a cutting seton at the National Guard Hospital over a four-year period (2019-2022). Information obtained from medical records included clinical and demographic data. The data collected during the study was compiled and statistically analyzed using the SPSS Statistics version 26.0 (IBM Corp. Released 2019. IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 26.0. Armonk, NY: IBM Corp.). A p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results A total of 50 patients with high anal fistula treated with a cutting seton were included: 82% were males and 18% were females, with 66% below 45 years of age. Approximately 92% had inter-sphincteric fistulas, and only 28% had a recurrent fistula. Almost all patients (98%) had an MRI done before surgery. Around 70% of patients were completely cured, 26% had minor complications, 8% of the operated patients experienced mild incontinence, and only one recurrence (2%). Conclusion The cutting seton is still a valid modality in treating patients with a high anal fistula, as it is considerably safe, effective, and yields good outcomes. Standard preoperative assessment and thorough surgical techniques are cornerstones for achieving a satisfactory outcome.

Research on high anal fistula: a bibliometric analysis.

BACKGROUND: High anal fistula (HAF) treatment is more complicated than low anal fistula treatment. Improper treatment can easily affect anal function. The main treatment of HAF is surgery; however, external medicine and systemic medicine may also be used as adjuvant treatments. This study used bibliometric methods to analyze the relevant literature and provide a rough outline of the current status of HAF research. METHODS: A subject word-search strategy was used to retrieve HAF-related documents from the Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-E) database. CiteSpace software was used to analyze the exported raw data files, and draw a visual map, and BUSRT was used to detect and analyze the usage of keywords. RESULTS: A total of 1,020 documents were retrieved using "high anal fistula" as the search term, and the number of documents generally shows an increasing trend over time. These papers were mainly published in developed countries, such as Europe and the United States (US). The US is the country that has carried out the most relevant cooperative research; however, there is a lack of cooperation among a large number of authors. The keyword analysis showed that the current research focus is the treatment of HAF, while research on the prevention of HAF is largely lacking. CONCLUSIONS: More international multi-center clinical research studies on HAF should be conducted, and research on HAF prevention should also be strengthened.

Simplified dressing change after loose combined cutting seton surgery for high anal fistula: a prospective, single center randomized controlled study.

BACKGROUND: High anal fistula (HAF) is a refractory infectious disease. Surgery is the most effective way to treat HAF. Dressing change is an indispensable part of the rehabilitation process after surgery. The purpose of this study is to provide feasibility and evidence of safety for the implementation of a simplified dressing change after loose combined cutting seton (LCCS) surgery and to offer a better method for clinical treatment and postoperative rehabilitation of HAF. METHODS: In this single-blind randomized controlled trial, 76 patients diagnosed with HAF will be randomly divided into two groups: the simplified dressing change group (n=38) or the traditional debridement and dressing change group (n=38). Compared with traditional debridement and dressing change, simplified dressing change was conducted without mechanical debridement and disinfection. All patients were treated surgically with the LCCS and dressing change. Postoperative follow-up will be carried out on the 3rd, 7th, 14th, 21st, and 180th day after the operation. The primary outcomes will be: complete healing rate of wound and fistula, long-term recurrence rate, poor wound healing rate, and complete wound healing time. The following secondary outcomes will be evaluated: postoperative pain using a visual analogue scale (VAS) score, wound secretions, edema, granulation shape, depth of wound, duration of each dressing change, and incidence of adverse events. DISCUSSION: Dressing change after HAF surgery is a necessary stage of recovery after anorectal surgery. Effective dressing change can reduce false healing and increase the cure rate. However, traditional dressing change takes a long time, and the patient endures severe pain. We have found that the dressing change process can be simplified in the clinic for patients treated with LCCS. In particular, simplification of the dressing change process may be related to the unobstructed drainage provided by the combination of LCCS and the separation of the dotted line. We will treat HAF using LCCS and compare the simplified dressing change method after the operation with traditional routine debridement and dressing change to demonstrate whether the simplified dressing change can be used in patients with HAF treated with LCCS. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ChiCTR2100047312.

Long-term follow-up study of loose combined cutting seton surgery for patients with high anal fistula.

BACKGROUND: The treatment of high anal fistula (HAF) is still difficult for clinical surgeons. Our previous study demonstrated the short-term benefit of loose combined cutting seton (LCCS) for patients with HAF. This study aimed to evaluate the long-term effectiveness of LCCS for treating HAF patients. METHODS: We retrospectively enrolled consecutive HAF patients who received LCCS therapy in our hospital between March 2014 and July 2017. After enrollment, all patients were followed up by clinical review. The patients' clinical information and most recent follow-up results were collected. Pain was assessed by the visual analog scale (VAS), and the severity of fecal incontinence was assessed by the Wexner Continence Grading Scale. We also assessed the patients' quality of life (QOL) using a the MOS item short from health survey (SF-36) questionnaire. HAF healing was considered the primary outcome, while the fistula recurrence rate, severity of fecal incontinence, and QOL were the secondary outcomes. RESULTS: In total, 22 patients (18 male, four female) were enrolled in the final analysis. The mean duration of follow-up was 3.65 years (interquartile range: 3.55-4.22; range, 3.50-5.43). All patients were cured and there was no recurrence during the follow-up period. Eight patients reported a Wexner score of 1, while the remaining patients reported a score of 0 at the final follow-up. Furthermore, one patient had a VAS score of 1, while the remaining patients had a VAS score of 0, which indicated almost no postoperative pain. The QOL of all patients improved significantly. CONCLUSIONS: LCCS is an effective method to treat HAF patients. Large, multicenter randomized controlled trials are warranted.

Loose combined cutting seton for patients with high intersphincteric fistula: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Achieving a complete cure while maintaining continence constitutes a considerable challenge in the treatment of patients with high anal fistula. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of loose combined cutting seton (LCCS) for treating patients with high intersphincteric fistula. METHODS: Consecutive patients with high intersphincteric fistula who underwent LCCS were retrospectively enrolled. Patient data including demographics, medical history, comorbidities, details of the fistula, operative procedure, and prognosis were collected. Postoperative pain was assessed using a visual analog scale (VAS), which ranged from 0 (no pain) to 10 (extremely severe pain). The severity of fecal incontinence was assessed using the Wexner Continence Grading Scale, with a total score ranging from 0 (no incontinence) to 20 (complete incontinence). The primary outcome was the healing rate of fistula. Secondary outcomes included the recurrence rate of fistula and the severity of fecal incontinence. RESULTS: The 22 patients (male: female =18:4) in our study had a median follow-up of 55 (range, 32-568) days. The healing rate was 100%, and none of the patients experienced fistula recurrence. At the follow-up visit, 19 patients (86.4%) reported no fecal incontinence. The median total Wexner score was 0. 95.5% patients had VAS score of 0 and only 1 patient (4.5%) had a VAS score of 1, which indicated a low level of postoperative pain. CONCLUSIONS: LCCS achieved a high healing rate with an increased level of continence, as well as a low level of postoperative pain, in most patients with high anal fistula in our study. Further randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm the effectiveness of this novel seton-based technique.

The Impact of the Outcome of Treating a High Anal Fistula by Using a Cutting Seton and Staged Fistulotomy on Saudi Arabian Patients.

PURPOSE: A cutting seton is used after a partial distal fistulotomy to treat patients with a high exrasphincteric fistula in ano to avoid fecal incontinence and recurrence. In Saudi Arabia, religious practices necessitate complete cleanness, which makes conditions affecting anal continence a major concern to patients affected by an anal fistula. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the efficiency of the cutting seton in treating a high anal fistula among Saudi Arabians. METHODS: Between January 2005 and December 2014, a prospective study was done for 372 Saudi Arabian patients diagnosed as having a high anal fistula and treated with a cutting seton at Al-Ansar General Hospital, Medina, Saudi Arabia. 0-silk sutures were used. All patients underwent the same preoperative assessment, operative technique, and postoperative follow-up. Weekly, the seton was tightened in outpatient clinics. RESULTS: Two hundred ninety-eight patients (80.1%) were males and 74 (19.9%) females. The duration of symptoms varied from 3-21 months. The fistula healed completely in 363 patients (97.6%); 58 patients (15.6%) reported some degree of incontinence to flatus, but none to feces. In 9 patients (2.4%) the fistula recurred. CONCLUSION: The utilization of the cutting seton method in the treatment of patients with a high anal fistula is highly efficient as it simultaneously drains the abscess, cuts the fistulous tract, and causes fibrosis along the tract. Treatment of a high anal fistula by using a staged fistulotomy with a cutting seton was very rewarding to Saudi Arabian patients who feared anal incontinence for religious reasons and was associated with low postoperative complication and recurrence rates.

The Impact of the Outcome of Treating a High Anal Fistula by Using a Cutting Seton and Staged Fistulotomy on Saudi Arabian Patients

PURPOSE: A cutting seton is used after a partial distal fistulotomy to treat patients with a high exrasphincteric fistula in ano to avoid fecal incontinence and recurrence. In Saudi Arabia, religious practices necessitate complete cleanness, which makes conditions affecting anal continence a major concern to patients affected by an anal fistula. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the efficiency of the cutting seton in treating a high anal fistula among Saudi Arabians. METHODS: Between January 2005 and December 2014, a prospective study was done for 372 Saudi Arabian patients diagnosed as having a high anal fistula and treated with a cutting seton at Al-Ansar General Hospital, Medina, Saudi Arabia. 0-silk sutures were used. All patients underwent the same preoperative assessment, operative technique, and postoperative follow-up. Weekly, the seton was tightened in outpatient clinics. RESULTS: Two hundred ninety-eight patients (80.1%) were males and 74 (19.9%) females. The duration of symptoms varied from 3–21 months. The fistula healed completely in 363 patients (97.6%); 58 patients (15.6%) reported some degree of incontinence to flatus, but none to feces. In 9 patients (2.4%) the fistula recurred. CONCLUSION: The utilization of the cutting seton method in the treatment of patients with a high anal fistula is highly efficient as it simultaneously drains the abscess, cuts the fistulous tract, and causes fibrosis along the tract. Treatment of a high anal fistula by using a staged fistulotomy with a cutting seton was very rewarding to Saudi Arabian patients who feared anal incontinence for religious reasons and was associated with low postoperative complication and recurrence rates.

Clinical efficacy of ligation of intersphincteric fistula tract for the treatment of high anal fistula / 中华消化外科杂志

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of ligation of intersphincteric fistula tract (LIFT) for the treatment of high anal fistula.Methods The clinical data of 77 patients with high anal fistula who were admitted to the Puren Hospital and Chaoyang Hospital from January 2011 to June 2012 were retrospectively analyzed.All the patients were treated using the LIFT method (LIFT group,37 patients) or fistulectomy + threaddrawing therapy (thread-drawing group,40 patients).The operation time,healing time,time and severity of postoperative pain,recurrence and anal sphincter dysfunction were compared between the 2 groups.The measurement data,the count data and the rank data were analyzed using the t test,chi-square test,and the rank sum test,respectively.Results The operation time of the LIFT group and the thread-drawing group were (21.4 ± 2.0) minutes and (20.6 ± 1.9) minutes,with no significant difference between the 2 groups (t =1.911,P ＞ 0.05).In the LIFT group,17 patients felt low-grade pain,no patient felt medium-grade or severe pain.In the thread-drawing group,7 patients felt low-grade pain,14 patients felt medium-grade pain,19 patients felt severe pain.The duration of postoperative pain in the LIFT group and the thread-drawing group were (3.0 ± 1.3) days and (14.1 ± 1.5)days,respectively.The severity and duration of postoperative pain of the LIFT group were significant lower and shorter than those of the thread-drawing group (u =-7.189,t =34.534,P ＜ 0.05).The healing time,anal scar area and anal sphincter function score were (26.0 ± 1.9) days,(1.24 ± 0.20) cm2 and 1 in the LIFT group,and (40.7 ± 2.8) days,(2.64 ± 0.25) cm2 and 4 in the thread-drawing group,with no significant difference between the 2 groups (t =26.574,26.868,Z =-7.513,P ＜ 0.05).The effective rate of the 2 treatment methods were 100％.The cure rate and recurrence rate were 51.4％ (19/37) and 5.4％ (2/37) in the LIFT group,and 42.5％ (17/40) and 2.5％ (1/40) in the thread-drawing group.There were no significant differences in the cure rate and recurrence rate between the 2 groups (x2=0.605,0.433,P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion LIFF method has higher cure rate for high anal fistula with short time of postoperative pain and healing,good anal sphincter function and low recurrence rate.