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Iqbal N, Alrubaiy L, Hart A, Siviter R, Wilson L, Tozer P. The development of a cryptoglandular anal fistula quality of life scale (AF-QoL). Colorectal Dis 2024; 26:716-725. [PMID: 38363007 DOI: 10.1111/codi.16917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
AIM Quality of life (QoL) is a crucial and core outcome in assessing the effectiveness of treatments for cryptoglandular anal fistula. Despite its extensive impact, there is a lack of patient-centred, disease-specific QoL measurement instruments of adequate quality. The aim of this study is to develop a disease-specific measurement instrument that can accurately measure QoL for patients with cryptoglandular anal fistula. METHOD Semi-structured qualitative patient interviews and a systematic review of current instruments were used to generate items for the draft instrument. This underwent successive rounds of cognitive interviews to refine its wording and structure. Individual item and overall scale content validity were determined by asking experts to rate the relevance of each item and those deemed irrelevant were removed. The final instrument then underwent psychometric testing and test-retest analysis to determine its sensitivity and stability. RESULTS A total of 148 patients were involved in item generation, scale development and psychometric testing. A 22-item measurement instrument has been developed; it is scored on a scale of 0-100, where 0 indicates the worst QoL and 100 demonstrates perfect QoL. The scale demonstrates excellent internal consistency (Cronbach-α = 0.927), strong content and construct validity [correlation with Perianal Disease Activity Index = -0.713, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Anxiety (-0.659) and Depression (-0.673) subscales and Short Form-12 physical (0.609) and mental (0.589) component scales] and strong reliability and responsiveness. CONCLUSION We have developed a cryptoglandular Anal Fistula Quality of Life scale (AF-QoL), a comprehensive, disease-specific patient reported outcome measure assessing QoL in patients with cryptoglandular anal fistula.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nusrat Iqbal
- Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Robin Phillips' Fistula Research Unit, St Mark's Hospital, Central Middlesex, London, UK
| | - Laith Alrubaiy
- Robin Phillips' Fistula Research Unit, St Mark's Hospital, Central Middlesex, London, UK
- Department of Gastroenterology, St Mark's Hospital, Central Middlesex, London, UK
| | - Ailsa Hart
- Robin Phillips' Fistula Research Unit, St Mark's Hospital, Central Middlesex, London, UK
| | | | | | - Phil Tozer
- Robin Phillips' Fistula Research Unit, St Mark's Hospital, Central Middlesex, London, UK
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Would Surgeons Like to Be Submitted to Anal Fistulotomy? An International Web-Based Survey. J Clin Med 2023; 12:jcm12030825. [PMID: 36769474 PMCID: PMC9918049 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12030825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2022] [Revised: 01/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Traditional fistulotomy is the most performed surgical procedure in anal fistula surgery. We conducted an international online survey to explore colorectal surgeons' opinions and preferences on fistulotomy. Considering the healing and continence impairment rates reported in the literature, surgeons were invited to answer as a hypothetic patient susceptible to being submitted to fistulotomy for low and high anal fistula. A total of 767 surgeons completed the survey from 72 countries. The majority of respondents were consultants, having treated more than 20 anal fistulas in the last year. Most of them declared that anal fistula would be able to negatively affect quality of life and would be worried/anxious about it. Taking into account all aspects, 87.5% and 37.8% of respondents would agree to be treated with a fistulotomy in case of a low and high fistula, respectively, with an acceptance rate that varied worldwide. At multivariate analysis, factors correlated to the acceptance of anal fistulotomy were male gender (p = 0.003), practice of less than 20 fistula operations during last year (p = 0.020), and low fistula (p < 0.001). Surgeons recognized the extreme complexity of this approach. This study highlighted the necessity of an accurate patients' selection and the adoption of alternative strategy to reduce the risk of anal continence impairment.
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Tulina IA, Churina YA, Medkova YS, Tsarkov PV. [Full-wall semi-circular mobilization of posterior wall of the lower ampullar rectum for complex recurrent anorectal fistula]. Khirurgiia (Mosk) 2023:84-91. [PMID: 37186655 DOI: 10.17116/hirurgia202305184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To describe a new technique for closure of sphincter complex defects after excision of recurrent high rectal fistulas and compare with other traditional techniques. MATERIAL AND METHODS We retrospectively analyzed patients operated on for recurrent posterior rectal fistula. All patients underwent fistulectomy and one of the methods for defect closure after excision of the fistula: sphincter suturing, muco-muscular flap or full-wall semicircular mobilization of the lower ampullar rectum. The last method implemented the principle of inter-sphincter resection in rectal cancer. We developed this method as an alternative to muco-muscular flap in patients with fibrosis of anal canal to form a full-thickness well-vascularized flap without tissue tension. RESULTS Between 2019 and 2021, 6 patients underwent fistulectomy with sphincter suturing, 5 patients - closure with muco-muscular flap, 3 males underwent full-wall semicircular mobilization of the lower ampullar rectum. There was a tendency to better continence after a year (1 (0, 1.5), 1 (0, 1.5) and 3 (1, 3) points, respectively). Postoperative follow-up period was 12.5 (10, 15), 12 (9, 15) and 16 (12, 19) months, respectively. None patient had signs of recurrence throughout the follow-up period. CONCLUSION Original technique can be considered as an alternative to standard approaches in patients with high recurrent posterior anorectal fistulas, when traditional displaced endorectal flap is ineffective or impossible due to excessive scarring and anatomical changes in the anal canal.
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Affiliation(s)
- I A Tulina
- Sechenov First Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
- Clinic of Coloproctology and Minimally Invasive Surgery, Moscow, Russia
| | - Yu A Churina
- Sechenov First Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
- Clinic of Coloproctology and Minimally Invasive Surgery, Moscow, Russia
| | - Yu S Medkova
- Sechenov First Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
- Clinic of Coloproctology and Minimally Invasive Surgery, Moscow, Russia
| | - P V Tsarkov
- Sechenov First Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
- Clinic of Coloproctology and Minimally Invasive Surgery, Moscow, Russia
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Iqbal N, Shah R, Alrubaiy L, Tozer P. Do Patient-Reported Quality-of-Life (QoL) Scales Provide an Adequate Assessment of Patients with Cryptoglandular Anal Fistulae? A Systematic Review of Measurement Instruments and Their Content Validity. Clin Pract 2022; 12:628-639. [PMID: 36005069 PMCID: PMC9406553 DOI: 10.3390/clinpract12040066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Revised: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Cryptoglandular anal fistulae can significantly affect patient quality of life (QoL), making it essential to ensure that any study of fistula treatment assesses the impact on QoL. The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the content validity of Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) that assess QoL in patients with a fistula. Methods: MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, and Scopus were searched and studies assessing the content validity of patient-reported QoL measurement instruments, or PROM development studies in patients with cryptoglandular anal fistulae, were included. Data were extracted from eligible studies to determine the instruments’ relevance, comprehensiveness, and comprehensibility, and their quality was assessed according to COnsensus-based Standards for the Selection of health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN). Results: Two PROM development studies were identified, both of which described the development of a disease-specific QoL measurement instrument for patients with cryptoglandular anal fistulae. The overall content validity of these instruments was inconsistent and supported by very low-quality evidence. There were no studies assessing the content validity of established QoL measurement instruments in patients with fistulae. Conclusions: This systematic review could not establish the content validity of the available QoL PROMs for patients with anal fistulae, due either to the absence of designated content validity studies or a lack of comprehensiveness of the available PROMs. This highlights an important gap in the literature that needs to be addressed to ensure high-quality outcome assessment in patients with fistulae.
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Living with cryptoglandular anal fistula: a qualitative investigation of the patient's experience through semi-structured patient interviews. Qual Life Res 2022; 31:2505-2518. [PMID: 35174436 PMCID: PMC9250474 DOI: 10.1007/s11136-022-03098-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Purpose Cryptoglandular anal fistula continues to be a subject of extensive surgical research due to the lack of effective and enduring treatments, some of which incur risks to continence and quality of life. However, the patient experience of disease has seldom been reported. The aims of this study are to understand the impact of living with a fistula and the treatment outcomes that are valued by patients. Methods Patients with cryptoglandular anal fistula were recruited using purposive sampling from two tertiary referral centres in the UK and the Netherlands. Patients underwent semi-structured interviews that were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Dutch transcripts were translated into English and underwent independent, thematic analysis using open coding by two study team members to identify common themes and sub-themes. Results Twenty interviews were conducted before saturation was reached (11 male, median age 49, Interquartile range 39–55 years). Four broad themes emerged, covering the physical symptoms of fistula, the patient journey towards understanding the condition, life impact, and treatment. Several inter-related sub-themes were found, reflecting the extensive impact and adjustment that the disease entails. Conclusion The impact of cryptoglandular anal fistula extends beyond the physical symptoms of pain and discharge, requires significant readjustment, and often negatively impacts psycho-social wellbeing. These aspects of disease should receive greater attention in future assessment of treatment and quality of life. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11136-022-03098-y.
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Garg P, Yagnik VD, Dawka S, Kaur B, Menon GR. A Novel MRI and Clinical-Based Scoring System to Assess Post-Surgery Healing and to Predict Long-Term Healing in Cryptoglandular Anal Fistulas. Clin Exp Gastroenterol 2022; 15:27-40. [PMID: 35210804 PMCID: PMC8860728 DOI: 10.2147/ceg.s343254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2021] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Anal fistulas cause great uncertainty and anxiety in patients and surgeons alike. This is largely because of the inability to accurately confirm postoperative fistula healing, especially long-term healing. There is no scoring system available that can objectively assess cryptoglandular anal fistulas for postoperative healing and can also accurately predict long-term healing. Methods Several parameters that could indicate anal fistula healing were assessed. Out of these, six parameters (four MRI-based and two clinical) were finalized, and a weighted score was given to each parameter. A novel scoring system (NSS) was developed. A minimum possible score (zero) indicated complete healing whereas the maximum weighted score (n = 20) indicated confirmed non-healing. Scoring was done with postoperative MRI (at least 3 months post-surgery), then compared with the actual healing status, and subsequently correlated with the final long-term clinical outcome. Results The NSS was validated in 183 operated cryptoglandular fistula-in-ano patients over a 3-year period in whom 283 MRIs (preoperative plus postoperative) were performed. The postoperative follow-up was 12–48 months (median-30 months). The NSS was found to have a very high positive predictive value (98.2%) and moderately high negative predictive value (83.7%) for long-term fistula healing. Additionally, its sensitivity and specificity in predicting healing were 93.9% and 94.7%, respectively. Conclusion Thus, this new scoring system is highly accurate and would be a useful tool for surgeons and radiologists managing anal fistulas. By objectivizing the assessment of postoperative healing, it can both ease and streamline management. Moreover, reliable prediction of recurrence-free long-term healing will greatly allay the apprehensions associated with this dreaded disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pankaj Garg
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Indus Super Specialty Hospital, Mohali, Punjab, India
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Garg Fistula Research Institute Surgery, Panchkula, Haryana, India
- Correspondence: Pankaj Garg, Department of Colorectal Surgery, Indus Super Specialty Hospital, Mohali, Punjab, 140507, India, Fax +91 9501011000, Email
| | - Vipul D Yagnik
- Department of Surgical Gastroenterology, Nishtha Surgical Hospital and Research Centre, Patan, Gujarat, India
| | - Sushil Dawka
- Department of Surgery, SSR Medical College, Belle Rive, Mauritius
| | - Baljit Kaur
- Department of Radiology, SSRD MRI Imaging Centre, Chandigarh, Haryana, India
| | - Geetha R Menon
- National Institute of Medical Statistics, Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi, India
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Sahnan K, Adegbola S, Iqbal N, Twum-Barima C, Reza L, Lung P, Warusavitarne J, Hart A, Tozer P. Managing non-IBD fistulising disease. Frontline Gastroenterol 2020; 12:524-534. [PMID: 34712471 PMCID: PMC8515280 DOI: 10.1136/flgastro-2019-101234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2020] [Revised: 06/03/2020] [Accepted: 06/07/2020] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Kapil Sahnan
- Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Robin Phillip’s Fistula Research Unit, St Mark's Hospital and Academic Institute, Harrow, London, UK
| | - Samuel Adegbola
- Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Robin Phillip’s Fistula Research Unit, St Mark's Hospital and Academic Institute, Harrow, London, UK
| | - Nusrat Iqbal
- Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Robin Phillip’s Fistula Research Unit, St Mark's Hospital and Academic Institute, Harrow, London, UK
| | - Charlene Twum-Barima
- Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Robin Phillip’s Fistula Research Unit, St Mark's Hospital and Academic Institute, Harrow, London, UK
| | - Lillian Reza
- Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Robin Phillip’s Fistula Research Unit, St Mark's Hospital and Academic Institute, Harrow, London, UK
| | - Phillip Lung
- Robin Phillip’s Fistula Research Unit, St Mark's Hospital and Academic Institute, Harrow, London, UK
| | - Janindra Warusavitarne
- Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Robin Phillip’s Fistula Research Unit, St Mark's Hospital and Academic Institute, Harrow, London, UK
| | - Ailsa Hart
- Robin Phillip’s Fistula Research Unit, St Mark's Hospital and Academic Institute, Harrow, London, UK
- IBD Unit, St Mark's Hospital, Harrow, UK
| | - Phil Tozer
- Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Robin Phillip’s Fistula Research Unit, St Mark's Hospital and Academic Institute, Harrow, London, UK
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