Comparison of observational and controlled clinical trials of diltiazem in the treatment of chronic anal fissure

The importance of topical metronidazole in the treatment of acute anal fissure: a double-blind study controlled for prospective randomization

Purpose

Acute anal fissure, a disease characterized by severe pain in the anorectal area, reduces quality of life and becomes chronic absent appropriate treatment. More recently, anaerobic infections have been noted as contributive to etiopathogenesis. This study investigates topical metronidazole's effect in the treatment of acute anal fissure.

Methods

Our prospective randomized controlled double-blind study included 2 groups of 100 patients older than 18 years from our General Surgery Clinic with anal fissure complaints for less than 8 weeks. Topical diltiazem treatment was started in group 1, and topical diltiazem and metronidazole treatment in group 2. Pain levels were evaluated by the visual analogue scale (VAS) score, and recovery status was evaluated by physical examination findings ab initio and at the 1st, 4th, and 6th weeks. VAS score levels, demographic, clinical, and recovery status were then compared.

Results

There was no difference between the groups as to age, sex, pain on defecation, bleeding, constipation, and duration of pain, bleeding and constipation (P>0.05). From week 1, fissure epithelialization and healing rates were higher in group 2 (P<0.001); group 2 VAS score levels were lower than in group 1 (P<0.001) and achieved by group 1 only in week 4 (P=0.073).

Conclusion

Adding topical metronidazole to treatment reduces the duration and severity of pain, shortens healing time, and increases the healing rate.

MEBO versus topical Diltiazem versus a combination of both ointments in the treatment of acute anal fissure: a randomized clinical trial protocol

Background

Anal fissure is a common complication of the anorectal region and one of the most reported causes of anal pain. Acute anal fissure can be cured by surgery or medical treatment. There is an increase in the use of topical therapy for the treatment of anal fissures. A common topical drug used is Diltiazem (DTZ), a calcium-channel blocker, which relaxes the anal sphincter and thus promotes healing of the anal fissure. Moist exposed burn ointment (MEBO) is an ointment that is effective for the treatment of burns and wound healing and is becoming popular in the treatment of anal fissures.

Methods

This is a 1:1:1 randomized, controlled, parallel design, with endpoint measures of change in pain score, wound healing, defecation strain score and patient’s global impression of improvement. The study will be conducted at AUBMC over a 10-week period. Patients will be randomized to three treatment arms: MEBO, Diltiazem, and a combination of MEBO and Diltiazem ointments.

Discussion

The results of this study will allow physicians to assess the efficacy and safety of MEBO in the treatment of acute anal fissure, and also in comparison to Diltiazem. This trial will generate evidence-based conclusions regarding the use of a herbal/natural-based product (MEBO ointment) for the treatment of anal fissures.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT04153032. Clinical Trial Registration Date: 06-NOVEMBER-2019.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12906-021-03227-z.