The efficacy of Ksharsutra, Fistulectomy and Ligation of Intersphincteric Fistula Tract (LIFT) procedure in management of Fistula in ano a prospective observational study

BACKGROUND: Fistula in ano is always a troublesome condition for the clinician and the patients owing to its complexity, recurrences, and high morbidity since ancient times. There is no gold standard treatment modality to date documented in the literature for complex fistula in ano. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We enrolled 60 consecutive adult patients attending the surgical outpatient department of a tertiary care centre in India, diagnosed with complex fistula in ano. Among them, 20 each in the Ligation of intersphincteric fistula tract (LIFT), Fistulectomy andKsharsutra(Special medicated seton) group were respectively recruited randomly. A prospective observational study was conducted. The primary outcomes were postoperative recurrence and morbidity. Post-operative morbidity is measured in terms of postoperative pain, postoperative bleeding, pus discharge and post-operative incontinence. The result of the study were analysed after 6 months of follow-up by clinical examination at outpatient department and at 18 months follow up done telephonically. RESULTS: At 6 months of follow-up, 2 patients (10%) had a recurrence in the Ligation of intersphincteric fistula tract procedure group, 3 patients (15%) in the fistulectomy group and 6 patients (30%) in Ksharsutra group, however 3(15%), 4(20%) and 9(45%) patients developed recurrence in Ligation of Intersphincteric fistula tract, Fistulectomy and Ksharsutra group respectively at 18 month of follow-up. The differences in the recurrence were not statistically significant.The mean Visual analogue score for postoperative pain after 24 h as well as after 48 h were statistically significant in Ligation of intersphincteric fistula tract versus Ksharsutra group (p < 0.05). The Visual analogue score for post–operative pain was also significant in the Ligation of the intersphincteric fistula tract versus the Fistulectomy group (p < 0.05). The patients treated via Fistulectomy and Ksharsutra had a higher proportion of bleeding (15%) as compared to the Ligation of intersphincteric fistula tract procedure. Postoperative morbidity was statistically significant between the Ligation of intersphincteric fistula tract versus the Ksharsutra and the Ligation of intersphincteric fistula tract versus Fistulectomy. CONCLUSION: Ligation of intersphincteric fistula tract had less postoperative morbidity compared to Fistulectomy and Ksharsutra procedure; although recurrence was less compared to other methods it was statistically not significant.