The success of laser ablation of fistula tract (laft) technique in anal fistula treatment: Early results of a tertiary center

Abstract

Laser Ablation of the Fistula Tract (LAFT) is a newly defined technique for anal fistula treatment. Our aim in this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the LAFT technique and to discuss the precise indications and limitations of the technique by sharing our own truths and mistakes over our early results. All patients with anal fistulas who were treated LAFT tecnique by same team from April 2019 until March 2020 at the our center, were evaluated in this study, retrospectively. While the patients who failed LAFT were included in the "Reccurrence after LAFT" group, the patients with successful LAFT were included in the "Healing" group. Differences between the groups were investigated. LAFT technique was applied to 19 patients in the specified period. Twelve (63%) of the cases were male and 7 (37%) were female, and the mean age was 45±14.5. The mean postoperative follow-up time was 13±3.4 months. Eleven cases had undergone surgery at least once with the diagnosis of anal fistula. Loose seton was applied in only 4 (25%) cases. It was observed that only 7 (37%) patients recovered with the LAFT technique (Table 1). LAFT was found to be more successful in patients who had never been operated before (p = 0.048, Table 2). In conclusion, LAFT technique is more successful in primary anal fistula cases and this technique should definitely be among the surgical options for anal fistula treatment.