EVALUATION OF LIGATION OF INTERSPHINCTERIC FISTULAS TRACT (LIFT) FOR THE TREATMENT OF TRANSSPHINCTERIC ANAL FISTULA

Abstract

Background: Fistula-in-ano consists of a primary track which passes from the internal opening in the anal canal to the external opening in the perineum. Most of the anal fistulas are originated from the infection of anal glands which are connected to the anal crypts (cryptoglandular origin). Age distribution is spread throughout adult life with maximal incidence between the third and fifth decades. Men are 2 to 5 times more likely to develop anal fistula than women. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the LIFT technique for the treatment of trans-sphincteric anal fistula. Patients and Methods: This study included 20 patients with trans-sphincteric fistula from August 2018 till April 2020, while anal fistula due to specific disease and other types of law anal fistula have been excluded from the study. Regarding demographic data, 90% of the included patients were males and the mean age was 38 years. The median duration of symptoms was 8 months, and the median length of the fistula tracts was 7cm. The mean BMI of patients was 38, seven patients (35%) were diabetic. All patients were investigated with pre-operative MRI and 3D CT fistulography. Results: The main finding of this study was overall healing of 80% of patients, with a 6 months follow-up. There were 1 failure, and 3 recurrences between 3 and 6 months after surgery. No patients reported de novo incontinence, and all patients reported normal control. The median time for wound healing was 4 weeks. Conclusion: LIFT Technique is quite, simple and excellent in long term control of trans-sphincteric fistula, but actually the corner stone in management of perianal fistula is the accurate diagnosis of the type of fistula, which need good preoperative imaging by both surgeon and radiologist, followed by good intraoperative assessment of the type of fistula for selection of the appropriate Technique of each type.