Abstract

GUTIERREZ PEREZ, Jorge Octavio; VILLANUEVA HERRERO, Juan Antonio; JIMENEZ BOBADILLA, Billy  and  VELASCO GARCIA, Pasquinely Salvador. Treatment of anal fistula by ligation of intersphincteric fistula tract with 2-0 polyglactin: Pilot study. Cir. gen [online]. 2012, vol.34, n.2, pp.111-115. ISSN 1405-0099.

Objective: To determine the percentage of healing and fecal continence (FC) with the technique of ligation of intersphinteric fistula tract (LIFT) with 2-0 polyglactin. Design: Experimental, descriptive non-comparative pilot study. Setting: Coloproctology Unit of the General Hospital of Mexico. Statistical analysis: Results are presented in frequency and percentage tables according to each studied variable. Patients and methods: We chose randomly and by convenience 14 patients with complex anal fistula (AF) to be treated with the LIFT technique with 2-0 polyglactin. LIFT could only be performed in 10 patients. They were followed for 3 months after surgery. Results: LIFT could only be performed in 10 (71%) of the patients; of these, 50% did not present secondary fistulous orifice nor exudates; 80% had no pain after surgery, and 100% returned to their working activities after 2 weeks. After 3 months, five patients continued with AF. Of the 10 patients subjected to LIFT, none presented fecal incontinence. Conclusion: LIFT with 2-0 polyglactin is a safe procedure; it was possible to performe the procedure in 71% of the chosen candidates, with a good healing efficacy in 50% of the patients.

Keywords : Anal fistula; sphincter-saving operation; ligation.