Video-Assisted Anal Fistula Treatment (VAAFT) for complex anorectal fistula: efficacy and risk factors for failure at 3-year follow-up.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to assess the 3-year objective and subjective outcomes of patients with complex anorectal fistula treated with Video-Assisted Anal Fistula Treatment (VAAFT). Furthermore, we evaluated the risk factors associated with recurrence. METHODS: All consecutive patients with complex anorectal fistula who underwent VAAFT in Beata Vergine Hospital of Mendrisio, Switzerland, from January 2013 to January 2016, were enrolled. Patients with suspicion or diagnosis of Crohn's disease, malignancy, previous history of radiotherapy or radical pelvic surgery were excluded. Preoperative clinical assessment based upon medical history, physical examination and endosonography, was performed in all patients. Data regarding subjective outcomes (the Patient Global Impression of Improvement, patient satisfaction scores and Wexner score), objective cure rate (absence of fistula at clinical examination), and adverse events were collected during follow-up. Uni and multivariate analysis were performed to investigate outcomes. RESULTS: One hundred and four patients had VAAFT. At 3-year follow-up, 96 patients (92.3%) were available for the evaluation. At 3 years after surgery, 81 of 96 patients (84.4%) declared themselves cured (p = 0.60). Similarly, at 3-year evaluation, 80 of 96 patients (83.3%) were objectively cured (p = 0.52). No serious intraoperative or postoperative complications were reported. All recurrences were treated with a repeat VAAFT procedure resulting in a complete healing. Uni and multivariate analysis of variables potentially involved in the failure of VAAFT showed that age ≥ 50 years was the only factor associated at risk of recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: VAAFT is a highly effective safe procedure for the treatment of anorectal fistula, with a low recurrence rate at 3-year follow-up. However, our study demonstrated that age ≥ 50 years is a risk factor for failure of VAAFT.

A Systematic review and meta-analysis of the efficacy and safety of video-assisted anal fistula treatment (VAAFT).

BACKGROUND: Video-assisted anal fistula treatment (VAAFT) is a novel, minimally invasive technique for the treatment of fistula-in-ano (FIA). This review aimed to search the literature for the outcome of VAAFT regarding the recurrence and complication rates of the technique. METHODS: A systematic literature search was conducted in compliance with the PRISMA screening guidelines. PubMed/MEDLINE and Scopus were searched for articles reporting the outcomes of VAAFT procedure from inception through April 2017. The main outcomes were patients' characteristics, technical aspects, operation time, recurrence, and complication rates. RESULTS: Eleven studies (n = 788 patients) were included. The mean age of the patients was 39.5 years. 66.5% of patients had high or complex FIA and 18.4% underwent previous fistula surgery. The internal opening of the fistula was detected in 85.7% of patients. The mean operation time was 42 ± 14.2 min. The weighed mean rate of detection of internal opening was 93.3%. Recurrence occurred in 112 (14.2%) patients after a median follow-up of 9 months. Recurrence rates varied according to method of closure of internal opening from 15.3% after using staplers, 17.7% after suturing, to 25% after advancement flap. The weighted mean recurrence rate across the studies was 17.7%. The weighted mean complication rate was 4.8%. CONCLUSION: VAAFT may be considered an effective diagnostic tool and a safe method for the treatment of complex and high FIA attaining satisfactory outcome and acceptably low complications. Recurrence after VAAFT may be related to previous fistula surgery and the method of closure of the internal opening.

Fistuloscopy in the management of pediatric pilonidal sinus disease / Sinus pilonidalis fisztuloszkópos kezelése gyermekekben.

Összefoglaló. Bevezetés: A sinus pilonidalis nehezen kezelheto, sok szövodménnyel és recidívával járó betegség. A legtöbb mutéti eljárás többnapos kórházi kezelést, munkából vagy iskolából való hiányzást követel. Célkituzés: Munkánk célja, hogy a PEPSiT- (pediatric endoscopic pilonidal sinus treatment) mutétek eredményességét vizsgálja. Módszer: Intézetünkben 2019-2020-ban PEPSiT-mutéten átesett, 18 év alatti betegeket válogattunk be a vizsgálatba. Kizártuk a cisztoszkóppal operált és kontrollra nem jelentkezo betegeket. A szövodmények, recidívák számát, a kórházi tartózkodás hosszát, a sebgyógyulás és a hétköznapi aktivitáshoz való visszatérés idejét vizsgáltuk. Eredmények: Betegeink többsége fiú (24 fiú, 4 lány), átlagéletkoruk 15,6 év volt. 28 betegen 31 PEPSiT-beavatkozást végeztünk (3 re-PEPSiT), 6 recidíva, 1 sebgennyedés alakult ki. A betegek egy része egynapos ellátás keretében, míg a többség egy éjszaka bentfekvés után tért haza (1,74 nap ápolási ido). A hétköznapi aktivitáshoz 1,37 nap után tértek vissza, a gyógyulási ido 5,9 hét volt átlagosan. Megbeszélés: A PEPSiT-beavatkozás minimálisan invazív lehetoség, igen rövid kórházi tartózkodással. A betegek hamar térnek vissza a szokott aktivitásukhoz, a korábbi sipolyon kívül újabb mutéti seb nem alakul ki. A recidívaarány hasonló az egyéb technikákéhoz. Következtetés: A PEPSiT-beavatkozás jól alkalmazható, a recidívaarány csökkentése fontos. Orv Hetil. 2021; 162(43): 1740-1743. INTRODUCTION: The treatment of pilonidal disease is often challenging, due to frequent recurrences and adverse events. Most operative treatments require a lengthy hospital stay, and absence from school or work. OBJECTIVE: We aimed towards assessing the effectivity of PEPSiT (pediatric endoscopic pilonidal sinus treatment). METHOD: In this study, we included patients subjected to PEPSiT from 2019 to 2020 between ages 0-18 years. Patients operated via cystoscope and patients who did not attend follow-up examinations were excluded. Adverse events, recurrences, length of hospital stay, wound healing time and return to everyday activity were assessed. RESULTS: The majority of our patients were male (24 male, 4 female), the mean age was 15.6 years. 31 PEPSiT operations were recorded on 28 patients (3 were redo surgeries). 6 recurrences and 1 wound suppuration were documented. Some patients were treated within the confines of one-day surgery, while most of them stayed one night (mean length of stay was 1.74 days). Return to everyday activity was an average 1.37 days, and mean wound healing time was 5.9 weeks. DISCUSSION: PEPSiT is a minimally invasive operative approach with a very short hospital stay. Patients return to everyday activity faster. New operative scarring does not happen apart from the preexisting fistula opening. Recurrence rate is similar to that of other treatment techniques. CONCLUSION: PEPSiT technique is applicable, however, reduction of the recurrence rate is important. Orv Hetil. 2021; 162(43): 1740-1743.

Video-assisted anal fistula treatment.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Fistula in ano is a common disease seen in the surgical outpatient department. Many procedures are advocated for the treatment of fistula in ano. However, none of the procedures is considered the gold standard. The latest addition to the list of treatment options is video-assisted anal fistula treatment (VAAFT). It is a minimally invasive, sphincter-saving procedure with low morbidity. The aim of our study was to compare the results with a premier study done previously. METHODS: The procedure involves diagnostic fistuloscopy and visualization of the internal opening, followed by fulguration of the fistulous tract and closure of the internal opening with a stapling device or suture ligation. The video equipment (Karl Storz, Tuttlingen, Germany) was connected to an illuminating source. RESULTS: The study was conducted from July 2010 to March 2014. Eighty-two patients with fistula in ano were operated on with VAAFT and were followed up according to the study protocol. The recurrence rate was 15.85%, with recurrences developing in 13 cases. Postoperative pain and discomfort were minimal. CONCLUSION: VAAFT is a minimally invasive procedure performed under direct visualization. It enables visualization of the internal opening and secondary branches or abscess cavities. It is a sphincter-saving procedure and offers many advantages to patients. Our initial results with the procedure are quite encouraging.