Surgical management of anal fissure versus Glyceryl Trinitrate ointment: a comparative prospective study

Abstract

Background: Anal fissure is common condition in general population which cause severe pain at the anal region while defecation and associated with bleeding. These symptoms cause reduction in quality of life with considerable morbidity. The objective of this study was to compare the difference in outcome between open lateral anal sphincterotomy and application of topical 0.2% nitroglycerin ointment for the treatment of chronic anal fissure and their individual efficacy.Methods: 68 cases with a clinical diagnosis of anal fissure were recruited in the study. All selected patients met with inclusion criteria. Thus, selected cases were assigned to one of the other groups by odd and even method. Group A was managed conservatively using topical 0.2% nitroglycerin ointment, whereas Group B underwent open lateral anal sphincterotomy. Both groups were followed up at 3 week, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks, after the treatment.Results: Among all the 68 patients, all patients had come with complaint of pain whereas 31 patients had bleeding per rectum along with pain. On clinical examination, hypertonic anal sphincter elicited in 47 patients, sentinel skin tag was noted in the 23 patients. Group A included 34 patients treated with topical 0.2% nitroglycerin ointment and group B included 34 patients who underwent lateral internal sphincterotomy. In group A, 25 (73.5%) patients treated successfully, 9 (26.4%) patients were uncured who underwent lateral anal sphincterotomy, with no fresh complaints during follow up. By contrast, all patients in group B were successfully treated and only one (0.03%) patient came with unexplained discomfort and one patient suffered from flatus incontinency.Conclusions: This prospective study, demonstrates that open lateral internal sphincterotomy is superior to topical nitroglycerin application in the treatment of anal fissure with good symptomatic relief, high rate of healing with very low rate of early incontinence. Patients who are not willing to undergo surgery the glycerin trinitrate ointment can be used as medical line for fissure in ano.