Effects of ligation of intersphincter fistula on complex anal fistula

Objective To investigate the effects of ligation of intersphincter fistula in the treatment of complex anal fistula. Methods A total of 160 patients with complex anal fistula admitted to Sanmenxia Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from January 2015 to December 2017 were selected as the research objects. According to the random number table method, all the patients were divided into control group and observation group, with 80 cases in each group. The control group underwent incision and thread-drawing operation, while the observation group underwent ligation of sphincter fistula. The operation time, wound healing time, hospital stay, hospitalization expenses, anal pain on the 1st, 3rd, 7th and 14th day after operation, anal function before and after operation, recurrence, complications and curative effects were recorded and compared between the two groups. Results The wound healing time, hospital stay and hospitalization expenses in the observation group were lower than those in the control group, (27.62±8.35)d vs. (34.46±10.13)d, (17.61±4.66)d vs. (26.57±6.32)d, (10.90±1.90) thousand yuan vs. (12.30±2.20) thousand yuan, and the differences were statistically significant (P 0.05). The visual analogue scale (VAS) scores of the observation group on the 1st, 3rd, 7th and 14th day after operation were lower than those of the control group at the same time point (P 0.05). The incidence of complications in the observation group (2.50%, 2/80) was lower than that in the control group(12.50%, 10/80), P<0.05. Conclusions Ligation of intersphincter fistula is effective in the treatment of complex anal fistula, and can effectively protect anal function, by which the patients can be cured quickly with fewer complications. Key words: Complex anal fistula; Ligation of intersphincter fistula ligation; Anal function; Anal fistula incision and thread-drawing