Randomized clinical trial comparing a small intestinal submucosa anal fistula plug to advancement flap for the repair of complex anal fistulas

Efficacy and safety of 13 surgical techniques for the treatment of complex anal fistula, non-Crohn CAF: a systematic review and network meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Considering the difficulty of treating complex anal fistula (CAF), various surgical techniques exist in clinical work. However, none are ideal. Evidence on the efficacy and safety of different surgical treatments is scarce. The authors aimed to compare the outcomes of the 13 surgical techniques and tried to find the best surgical method for treating CAF.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The authors searched worldwide databases, including Pubmed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CNKI, WanFang, VIP, and SinoMed, from inception to March 2023. All randomized controlled trials comparing the outcomes of 13 surgical techniques were included according to the PICO principles. The indicators of the cure rate, the recurrence rate, the complication rate, the operating time, the postoperative pain on day 1 (VAS), and the postoperative incontinence in month 1 (Wexner) were extracted and analyzed using STATA software 15.1, Review Manager 5.4, and GeMTC14.3.

RESULTS

Twenty-eight randomized controlled trials with a total of 2274 patients were included in the network meta-analysis. There was no statistically significant difference in the comparison among any surgical interventions in terms of the cure rate ( P >0.05 Table 2) and recurrence rate ( P >0.05 Table 3). However, in terms of complication rate, fistulectomy was lower than FPS (Median: 0.14; 95% CI: 0.02-0.70) or fistulotomy (Median: 0.09; 95% CI: 0.01-0.55), and fistulotomy was lower than EAFR (Median: 0.24; 95% CI: 0.05-0.84), LIFT (Median: 0.17; 95% CI: 0.02-0.66) or LIFT-EAFR (Median: 0.11; 95% CI: 0.01-0.69) ( P >0.05 Table 4). The surface estimated the advantages and disadvantages under the cumulative ranking (SUCRA). The ranking results indicated that fistulectomy might have the lowest complication rate (SUCRA=7.9%). Because the network results of the operating time, the postoperative pain, and the postoperative incontinence contained no closed loops, the results of their probability ranking could only be referenced, demonstrating that fistulectomy might have the shortest operating time (SUCRA=23.4%), video-assisted modified ligation of the intersphincteric fistula tract (VAMLIFT) might have the lowest postoperative pain on day 1 (VAS) (SUCRA=0.4%) and LIFT might have the lowest postoperative incontinence in month 1(Wexner) (SUCRA=16.2%).

CONCLUSION

Fistulectomy might have the lowest complication rate, which might be the relatively superior surgical technique for treating CAF.

Comparison of clinical outcomes of anal fistula plug and endoanal advancement flap repair treating the complex anal fistula: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Anal fistula (AF) is a common disease with high prevalence and surgical operations are effective treatments in clinical work. There exist many well-known surgical techniques treating complex anal fistula (CAF), however, none is ideal. To compare the superiority of Anal fistula plug (AFP) and Endoanal advancement flap repair (EAFR) for complex anal fistula. We searched worldwide databases including Pubmed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CNKI, WanFang, VIP, and SinoMed from their inception to March 2023. Studies comparing the outcomes of AFP and EAFR were included according to the PICO principles. The indicators of the healing rate, recurrence rate, wound infection rate, and complication rate, et al. were extracted and compared between different surgical methods. 5 RCTS and 7 non-RCTs were included in the meta-analysis with a total of 847 patients (341 patients conducted with AFP and 506 patients with EAFR). By combining the total effect of the 12 articles, we found that there was a statistical difference reporting the healing rate of AFP 48.3% and EAFR 64.4% treating the CAF (OR 0.68, 95% CI 0.30,1.55, P = 0.03), and EAFR has a better healing rate. However, there was no significant difference in terms of the recurrence rate (OR 1.68, 95% CI 0.80,3.54, P = 0.17), the wound infection rate (OR 1.82, 95% CI 0.95,3.52, P = 0.07), and the complication rate (OR 1.06, 95% CI 0.70,1.61, P = 0.77) either in the 12 articles or in the subgroup. The meta-analysis indicated that the EAFR was superior to AFP in terms of the healing rate treating the CAF, however, there were no significant differences between the two groups when it came to the recurrence rate, the wound infection rate, and the complication rate. EAFR might be one initial treatment for the complex cryptoglandular anal fistulas compared with AFP.

Long-term outcomes of an acellular dermal matrix for the treatment of complex cryptoglandular anal fistula: a pilot study

Backgound

Effective, standardized treatments for complex anal fistula (CAF) still represent a clinical challenge. Emerging procedures attempted to achieve the healing rates of fistulotomy whilst preserving sphincter function. Acellular dermal matrix (ADM) used as a plug inserted through the fistulous tract is among newer treatment options. Varying success rates have been reported, most with short-term follow-up. The aim of this study was to report the long-term results of ADM-plug for CAF.

Methods

Retrospective analysis of a prospective database of patients treated with CAF. All consecutive patients presenting at two tertiary centers (Vall d’Hebron University Hospital and Bellvitge University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain) between November 2015 and March 2019 with a single, cryptoglandular CAF were evaluated for treatment with an ADM-plug were included. The primary endpoint was absence of discharge at clinical examination at 12 month follow-up.

Results

Twenty-two patients were included [7 women and 15 men, median age 56 (33–74) years]. Most patients had high transsphincteric fistulas (63.6%). The median follow-up was 42 (21–53) months. The 12 month success rate was 68.2%, with an overall healing rate of 59.1%. 77.8% of recurrences occurred within 12 months from surgery. One plug extrusion was observed. No major complications or mortality occurred during the follow-up. Patients did not report any worsening of fecal continence.

Conclusions

This pilot study showed that more than half of patients with CAF could benefit from ADM-plug placement, preserving continence. A minimum follow-up of 12 months is recommended, because most recurrences occur during the first year.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10151-022-02593-1.

The management of cryptoglandular fistula-in-ano

Idiopathic cryptoglandular fistula-in-ano is a common pathological condition. Fistula-in-ano has been managed by a number of surgical techniques, and there is still no consensus regarding the management of this condition. Surgical techniques aim to treat and cure the fistula-in-ano with minimal risk of recurrence or complications, and to maintain patient continence. This article discusses the evidence available to inform the management of idiopathic cryptoglandular fistula-in-ano, and problems that surgeons face because of the lack of high-quality evidence.