INTERESFINCTERIAL LIGATION OF FISTULA TRACT (LIFT) FOR PATIENTS WITH ANAL FISTULAS: A BRAZILIAN BI-INSTITUTIONAL EXPERIENCE

The Ligation of the Intersphincteric Fistula Tract (LIFT) Technique for Simple and Complex Fistula-in-ano

Background Fistula-in-ano is one of the most common clinical condition encountered in a surgical outpatient department. Many treatment modalities have been described with variable outcomes but gold standard surgical treatment is yet to be agreed upon. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the treatment outcomes of ligature of intersphincteric fistula tract (LIFT) technique in the treatment of simple and complex fistula-in-ano with the primary objective of recurrence rate and broad objective of other postoperative complications during the period of study and after long-term follow-up.

Methods It is a retrospective study of prospectively collected data from the patients who have been operated for fistula-in-ano using the LIFT technique at our institute from February 2018 to March 2020 and followed-up until September 2020.

Results A total of 56 patients with fistula-in-ano were treated with the LIFT procedure during the study period, of which 20 patients had simple fistula and 36 had complex fistula. A success rate of 83% was obtained with completely healed fistulas in 46 patients. No patient developed postoperative incontinence.

Conclusion Ligature of intersphincteric fistula tract is an effective treatment modality for fistula-in-ano with less procedure-related morbidity, but it is associated with a higher recurrence rate in simple fistula than in complex fistula.

Advances in the Treatment of Anal Fistula: A Mini-Review of Recent Five-Year Clinical Studies

Anal fistula, with its complicated pathogenesis, has been considered as a clinical challenge for centuries. The risk of frequent recurrence and incontinence constitutes a considerable threat in the long-term treatment of anal fistula. In this work, we narratively reviewed the scientific literature of new techniques that have been used for anal fistula treatment over the recent 5 years, objectively evaluated the pros and cons of each technique on the basis of clinical outcomes, and tried to disclose the effective strategies for anal fistula treatment. Up to date, surgery is the main method used for treating anal fistula, but there is no simple technique that can completely heal complex anal fistula. In the course of surgery treatment, the healing outcome, and the protection of anal function should be weighed comprehensively. Among the innovative techniques that have emerged in recent years, combined techniques based on drainage Seton and LIFT-plug seem to be the relatively effective therapies, but their effectiveness requires more multi-center prospective randomized controlled trials with large sample size and long-term follow-up to be validated.

CAN Stryphnodendron adstringens EXTRACT IMPROVE THE RESULTS OF FISTULOTOMY FOLLOWED BY PRIMARY SPHINCTEROPLASTY IN THE TREATMENT OF TRANSSPHINCTERIC FISTULAE?

BACKGROUND

There is still a need for progress in the treatment of transsphincteric anal fistulae and the use of herbal medicines seems promising.

AIM

To evaluate the efficacy of Stryphnodendron adstringens associated with fistulotomy and primary sphincteroplasty in the treatment of transsphincteric fistulae in rats.

METHODS

Thirty Wistar rats were used, which were submitted to transsphincteric fistulas with steel wire 0; after 30 days a treatment was performed according to the group. Group A (n=10) was submitted to fistulotomy; group B (n=10), fistulotomy followed by primary sphincteroplasty with "U" stitch with polyglactin 911 4-0; group C(n=10) , similar to group B, but with the interposition between the muscular stumps of hemostatic sponge soaked in Stryphnodendron adstringens extract. Euthanasia was performed after 14 days, resecting a segment of the anal canal for histological analysis, which aimed to evaluate the closure of the fistula, the area of separation of the muscle cables, the inflammatory process and the degree of fibrosis.

RESULTS

No animal had a remaining fistulous tract. About the spacing between the muscle cables, an average of 106.3 µm2 was observed in group A, 82.8 µm2 in group B and 51.8 µm2 in group C (p<0.05). There was no difference between the groups regarding the inflammatory process and, in relation to fibrosis, in group A there was a mean of 0.6, in group B 0.7 and in group C 0.2 (p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Stryphnodendron adstringens extract was able to allow less spacing between muscle cables in rats submitted to fistulotomy followed by primary sphincteroplasty, in addition to providing less local fibrosis.