A second case of long-term incontinence following botulinum injection for anal fissure

Botulinum toxin use in paediatric colorectal surgery

PURPOSE

To evaluate outcomes of intrasphincteric botulinum toxin injection (ISBTI) in children with intractable constipation.

METHODS

Retrospective case-note review of patients ≤ 16 years of age undergoing ISBTI between January 2010 and February 2014. Data collected included patient demographics, diagnosis, complications, follow-up duration and functional outcomes. Successful outcome was defined as resolution/improvement in symptoms and failed when there was no change in symptoms. Statistical analyses were performed using PRISM (GraphPad, CA, USA). p values <0.05 were considered as significant.

RESULTS

43 patients [male 29, median age 5 years 9 months (range 13 months-13 years 5 months)] underwent 86 ISBTIs. Underlying diagnoses were idiopathic constipation (67 %), Hirschsprung disease (26 %), anorectal malformation (5 %), gastrointestinal dysmotility (2 %). 72 % (31/43) reported improvement in symptoms after the first ISBTI. 39 % of patients had recurrence of symptoms at 12-month median follow-up. 10 patients non-responsive to ISBTI required an antegrade continence enema or stoma. There was no correlation between age (p = 0.3), gender (p = 0.7), diagnosis (p  = 0.84), or number of ISBTIs (p = 0.17) with successful outcome.

CONCLUSION

Successful outcomes occurred in 72 % patients after the first ISBTI. 25 % required further surgical management of their symptoms. Further work is required to help predict which patients will benefit from ISBTI.

Anal fissure

Anal fissure is one of the most common anorectal problems. Anal fissure is largely associated with high anal sphincter pressures and most treatment options are based on reducing anal pressures. Conservative management, using increased fiber and warm baths, results in healing of approximately half of all anal fissures. In fissures that fail conservative care, various pharmacologic and surgical options offer satisfactory cure rates. Lateral internal sphincterotomy remains the gold standard for definitive management of anal fissure. This review outlines the key points in the presentation, pathophysiology, and management of anal fissure.

Botulinum toxin and anal fissure: efficacy and safety systematic review

PURPOSE

The main purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of botulinum toxin in the treatment of anal fissure. An answer was attempted to the following research questions: (i) what is the efficacy of botulinum toxin in healing of anal fissure compared to placebo, (ii) what is the efficacy of botulinum toxin in healing of anal fissure compared to other means of chemical sphincterotomy, (iii) what is the efficacy of botulinum toxin in healing of anal fissure compared to surgical sphincterotomy, (iv) what is the short term safety of botulinum toxin injections and (v) what is the long term safety of botulinum toxin injections.

METHODS

Clinical trials investigating the effect of botulinum toxin in the treatment of anal fissure met inclusion criteria. Case reports and case series were also included for the estimation of safety. Meta-analysis was not performed due to clinical heterogeneity.

RESULTS

The comparator could be placebo, nitroglycerin ointment, or lateral internal sphincterotomy, with dosage ranging from 20 IU to 50 IU of botulinum toxin. Fissure healing was the most commonly reported primary endpoint but the time period from botulinum toxin injection to fissure healing ranged from 2 weeks to 4 months. Accordingly, outcome data were also heterogenous.

CONCLUSIONS

Botulinum toxin injections should be considered a minimally invasive therapeutic option for the treatment of chronic anal fissure. However, well designed randomized trials are needed for the valid estimation of the efficacy and safety of botulinum toxin in this therapeutic indication.

Botulinum toxin for the treatment of chronic constipation in children with internal anal sphincter dysfunction

Internal anal sphincter (IAS) dysfunction is a cause of refractory constipation in children. The goal of this study was to determine whether intrasphincteric injection of botulinum toxin is effective in the treatment of constipation in pediatric patients with IAS dysfunction. A retrospective review was performed of 24 pediatric patients with intractable constipation. All patients had abnormal anorectal manometry, with either elevated IAS resting pressure (> or =100 mm Hg) or an absent or diminished rectoanal inhibitory reflex. Patients with Hirschsprung's disease were excluded. All patients underwent botox injection into the IAS and were followed for a minimum of 6 months. Of 24 patients, 22 experienced significant improvement in their constipation lasting greater than 2 weeks. The duration of effect was variable, with 12 patients demonstrating benefit lasting at least 6 months. Transient postoperative incontinence occurred in five patients. Intrasphincteric injection of botox is a safe and effective treatment for intractable constipation in children with IAS dysfunction.

The long-term efficacy of fissurectomy and botulinum toxin injection for chronic anal fissure in females

INTRODUCTION

Healing rates for botulinum toxin injection for anal fissure may be improved if combined with fissurectomy. This procedure has a decreased risk of incontinence, which is particularly important in females. We investigated the long-term efficacy of fissurectomy and botulinum toxin injection for chronic resistant fissures in females.

METHODS

Female patients who consented underwent excision of the fissure edges and injection of 25-100 units of botulinum into the intersphincteric space. Patients were followed up 2 months after the procedure and over a period of up to 39 months.

RESULTS

Forty-six patients (mean age, 42 years) were recruited. No patient had incontinence symptoms preoperatively. At a median follow-up period of 11 months, there was a cure rate of 85 percent in 44 patients. After a median follow-up of 22 months, 12 more patients were lost to follow-up. Of the remaining patients, 16 (50 percent) suffered recurrence during the follow-up period. Five patients required further surgical intervention. Three patients suffered chronic perianal infection requiring antibiotic treatment or surgery. There was one case of incontinence at final assessment: the patient complained of urge incontinence, which has persisted for more than 18 months.

CONCLUSIONS

Fissurectomy and botulinum toxin injection for the treatment of chronic anal fissure in females seems to be effective in the medium-term but there is a high rate of late recurrence. However, only a minority of patients proceed to more invasive surgical intervention, which may make it a useful option in patients not suitable for lateral sphincterotomy.

A review of chronic anal fissure management

Anal fissure management has rapidly progressed in the last 15 years as our understanding of fissure pathophysiology has developed. All methods of treatment aim to reduce the anal sphincter spasm associated with chronic anal fissures. Surgical techniques have been used for over 100 years with success. Lateral internal sphincterotomy remains the surgical treatment of choice for many practitioners. Postoperative impairment of continence remains controversial. Recently, less invasive methods of treatment have been explored. Topical nitrates, calcium channel blockers and botulinum toxin are established treatments. These and other non-surgical treatments are described in this review. Various guidelines and treatment algorithms for anal fissure are also discussed.