Loose Thick Seton Suture Stimulates Rapid Healing and Lower Recurrence Rate in the Treatment of High Type Fistula in Ano

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Fistula in ano is a chronic problem for the patients. It causes distressing because of foul odor and soiling with recurrent infection and discharge. Recurrence and anal sphincter injury were the most critical complications following surgery. Loose, thick seton placement was the most promising surgical operation. AIM: To reduce the time of seton placement, therefore, decreasing the suffering of patients from soiling and multiple dressing. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective study, one hundred patients with high type fistula in ano treated surgically in Al-Sader Medical city and Al-Najaf daily private clinic, Najaf city, Iraq, from February 2018 to March 2019. Fistulography and magnetic resonance imaging have taken from all patients. After that, fistulectomy with loose, thick seton suture placed for 3 months. Patients with the persistence of high fistula tract underwent a second surgery and third operation until complete healing. RESULTS: One hundred patients with high type fistula in ano with male 96 (96%) and female patients were 4 (4%). The rate of complete healing among male patients after the first operation was 90 (93%), while female patients showed a 4 (100%) rate of complete healing after the first operation. Three of the remaining male patients with persistently high fistula tract showed complete healing after the second operation, whereas 3 (3%) the rate of complete healing was 100% after the third operation. CONCLUSION: A loose, thick seton placed in high type fistula tract for 3 months provides excellent protection to the external anal sphincter with less recurrence rate and rapid healing.