Radiofrequency Y-V anoplasty in the treatment of anal stenosis.

BACKGROUND: Anal stenosis is a common proctologic disease often caused from hemorrhoids surgery. Treatments adopted are many and varied. In this study we applied radiofrequencies to the classic Y-V anoplasty operation and reported results obtained. METHODS: Eligibility criteria consisted of patients affected by anal stenosis. Exclusion criteria were those with contraindications to the surgical operation: pregnant patients or American Society of Anaesthesiologists Score III or IV. RESULTS: From January 2002 to December 2004 we operated 7 patients, 4 of them were males. Mean age at the time of diagnosis was 46 years. All patients referred obstructive defecation, painful evacuation or bleeding. Mean values for operative time were 30 min. Postoperative pain was 3.9 at day 1 and 3.0 at 7th day (VAS scale). Patient satisfaction rate was 6.6 at three weeks and 8.3 at 6 and 12 months. No recurrences were observed after 1 year. CONCLUSION: Radiofrequency Y-V anoplasty is a feasible and effective for the treatment of anal stenosis. The radiofrequency bistoury easies the procedure, lessens operating times and the healing process of surgical wounds.

Clinical applications of radiofrequency in proctology: a review.

The radiofrequency scalpel is an innovative instrument which allows to cut and coagulate tissues in an atraumatic manner, conversely to the electric scalpel. The authors describe the use of radiofrequencies in proctology by making a literature review for every major proctologic disease (hemorrhoids, anal fistulas, anal fissure, sinus pilonidalis, hypertrophied anal papillae). Many techniques have been developed with radiofrequencies in hemorrhoids treatment: coagulation, ablation with plication, Milligan Morgan and Parks hemorrhoidectomy. In the treatment of anal fissures, radiofrequency subcutaneous lateral internal sphincterotomy has been described. For anal fistulas, both radiofrequency fistulotomy and fistulectomy. Finally, radiofrequency sinotomy for sinus pilonidalis and coagulation for hypertrophied anal papillae are present in literature. The analysis of the results obtained with radiofrequency surgery compared with those of the "classic" surgery for proctologic disease shows that in most of them radiosurgery facilitates, accelerates and improves the surgical procedure.

Physics of radiofrequency in proctology.

Radiosurgery is a new technique that utilizes an instrument, the radiofrequency bistoury, which is able to simultaneously cut and coagulate tissues with the emission of radiofrequencies. The first experiments about the utilization of radiofrequency currents on man were conducted between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. The first medical field of application was in oncology leading to the development of hyperthermia as an anticancer treatment. During the 80's the radiofrequencies have been introduced in cardiology to thermally ablate stable arrhythmic foci. Actually ear, nose, and throat surgery, dermatology, plastic surgery, vascular surgery, orthopaedics, neurosurgery and minimally invasive surgery use this new tool in their practice. The authors show the classification of radio fre quencies in the electromagnetic field, describe their historic development, their physics and their initial clinical applications by making a systematic review of the literature.