Ligation of intersphincteric fistula tract (LIFT) for the treatment of anal fistula: a prospective observational study

Background: The ligation of intersphincteric fistula fract (LIFT) technique avoids postoperative anal continence disturbances and preserves quality of life. Methods: A total of 70 patients with anal fistula (AF) were treated in the Day Surgery Unit. The LIFT technique was the primary treatment in 63 patients. The other had previously undergone placement of a loose seton (two-step approach). The mean follow-up was 66.8 months. Statistical analysis was performed using contingency tables, the chi-square test, and the Student T-test. Results: The use of LIFT was successful in 40 patients (57.1%). However, 6 patients (8.6%) presented persistence of postoperative intersphincteric fistula, being successfully treated by fistulotomy. There were no differences in this technique's success rate between high and low AF (p = 0.45). The success rate of one-step LIFT, however, was significantly higher (p = 0.03). No disturbances of continence were observed. Conclusions: The LIFT technique has a role in the treatment of AF, is suitable for ambulatory surgery, and has a low complications rate. A two-step approach is not always needed. (AU)

Selective non-antibiotic treatment in sigmoid diverticulitis: is it time to change the traditional approach?

BACKGROUND: A growing body of knowledge is calling into question the use of antibiotics in acute diverticulitis (AD). Moreover, recent studies provide evidence regarding the security of treating patients with AD as outpatients. The aim of this study was to evaluate a restrictive antibiotic outpatient protocol for the treatment of mild-to-moderate episodes of AD. METHODS: All patients with symptoms of AD presenting to our emergency department were assigned a modified Neff stage. Patients with mild AD received outpatient treatment without antibiotics. Patients with mild AD and comorbidities were admitted to receive the same treatment. Patients with moderate AD were admitted for 48 h and were then managed as outpatients until they had completed 10 days of antibiotic treatment. RESULTS: Between April 2013 and November 2014, we attended 110 patients with a diagnosis of AD, 77 of whom we included in the study: 45 patients with mild AD and 32 with moderate AD. Of the patients with mild AD, 88.8 % successfully completed the non-antibiotic, non-admission treatment regime and 95.5 % benefited from a non-antibiotic regime, whether as outpatients or inpatients. A total of 88 % of patients with mild AD and 87.5 % of patients with moderate AD who met the inclusion criteria completed treatment as outpatients without incident. No major complications (abscess, emergency surgery) or deaths were recorded. CONCLUSIONS: Outpatient treatment without antibiotics for patients with mild AD is safe and effective. Patients with moderate AD can be safely treated with antibiotics in a mixed regime as inpatients and outpatients.

Does stapled anopexy for bleeding haemorrhoids cure associated anaemia?

AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of stapled anopexy (SA) in patients with chronic bleeding haemorrhoids and secondary anaemia. METHOD: Our department performed 340 SA procedure per patient for haemorrhoids between January 1999 and December 2011. Fifty (14.7%) of these patients (25 male patients and 25 female patients) had anaemia (haemoglobin concentration < 13 g/dl in male patients and < 12 g/dl in female patients) secondary to chronic haemorrhoidal bleeding. Patients with colorectal bleeding and anaemia not caused by haemorrhoids were excluded. The mean (SD) age was 56.4 (13.9) years and the mean (SD) haemoglobin concentration was 9.2 (1.6) g/dl for male patients and 10.4 (1.2) g/dl for female patients. Five (10%) patients with anaemia had Grade II, 22 (44%) had Grade III and 23 (46%) had Grade IV haemorrhoids. The median (range) duration of postoperative follow-up was six (1-12) years. RESULTS: None of the patients required early postoperative admission or experienced early or late complications related to SA. The procedure was successful (normal haemoglobin concentration and no bleeding at 6 months postsurgery) in 45 (90%) patients. Of the five (10%) patients in whom SA was ineffective, one had Grade II, three had Grade III and one had Grade IV haemorrhoids. All these patients underwent Milligan-Morgan haemorrhoidectomy 3 months after SA. CONCLUSION: SA is an effective treatment for patients with bleeding haemorrhoids and subsequent anaemia. In our experience, the success rate was satisfactory and there were no serious complications.

Anopexia mucosa grapada para el tratamiento de hemorroides y prolapso mucoso rectal en régimen de cirugía mayor ambulatoria / Stapled mucosal anopexy for the treatment of haemorrhoids and rectal mucose prolapse in day surgery

Introducción: El tratamiento quirúrgico de las hemorroides y del prolapso mucoso rectal mediante anopexia mucosa grapada disminuye el dolor postoperatorio respecto a las técnicas resectivas clásicas. Objetivo: Demostrar que la anopexia mucosa grapada es una técnica segura y efectiva para ser utilizada en cirugía mayor ambulatoria. Pacientes y métodos: Estudio observacional de 327 anopexias mucosa grapada (enero de 2000 a diciembre de 2011) para cirugía hemorroidal. Se evalúa el dolor postoperatorio mediante escala verbal numérica de 0 a 10, los eventos adversos, el grado de satisfacción postoperatoria mediante escala categórica verbal y los resultados del seguimiento (cifra de recidiva global). Asimismo, se analizan los índices principales de cirugía ambulatoria, ingresos no planeados, reingreso y tasa de ambulatorización. Resultados: La edad media de la muestra fue de 48,1 años (rango 21-85). La estancia postoperatoria media en los pacientes ambulatorios fue de 2,25 horas. El índice de ambulatorización fue de 79,8 % (261 pacientes), con un porcentaje de ingresos no planeados de 6,9 % (18 pacientes) y una tasa de reingresos de 1,1 % (3 casos). En cuanto al dolor, el 81,3 % de los pacientes experimentó dolor igual o inferior a 2 y referente a la situación postoperatoria inmediata, el 90 % de los pacientes la expresaron como excelente o buena. La cifra de recidiva global fue del 8,8 % (23 pacientes).Conclusiones: La anopexia mucosa grapada es una técnica segura y efectiva para el tratamiento de las hemorroides en régimen de cirugía sin ingreso. La cifra de recidivas es mayor a la observada con técnicas resectivas. Se puede conseguir una implementación progresiva de esta técnica en régimen ambulatorio con facilidad, con adaptación a los indicadores de calidad (AU)

Background: Stapled mucosal anopexy decreases postoperative pain for the treatment of haemorrhoids and rectal mucose prolapse when comparing with classical resective techniques. Aim of the study: To prove that stapled mucosal anopexy is a save and effective procedure to be performed in ambulatory surgery. Patients and method: From january 2000 to december 2011, 327 stapled mucosal anopexy procedures were performed, 261 cases (79.8 %) were done in ambulatory surgery. The mean age of the series was 48.1 (range 21-85), 165 men and 96 women. Preoperative preparation included phosphate enemas, and antibiotic prophylaxis. Progressive implementation in ambulatory surgery, postoperative pain, admissions, late admissions, early postoperative situation and recurrence were considered for the study. Results: Overall rate for stapled mucosal anopexy for ambulatory surgery was 79.8%. Postoperative pain was measured by a visual analogic scale (1-10), and 81.3 % of the patients expressed pain under 2. Eighteen patients (6.9 %) required admission on the day of surgery and late admission was needed in 3 patients (1.1 %). Ninety per cent of the patients expressed their situation as excellent or good. Overall recurrence of symptoms was 23 cases (8.8 %).Conclusions: Stapled mucosal anopexy is a safe and effective procedure for prolapsing haemorrhoids in ambulatory surgery. Recurrence rate is higher than that observed in resective techniques. Progressive implementation subject to normal day case criteria is easily achievable (AU)

Day case stapled anopexy for the treatment of haemorrhoids and rectal mucosal prolapse.

AIM: Stapled anopexy (SA) gives better early postoperative results than classical haemorrhoidectomy. The aim of this study is to demonstrate that SA is a safe and effective procedure for the treatment of haemorrhoids and rectal mucose prolapse in a day-case surgery programme. METHOD: From January 2000 to December 2008, 297 SA procedures were performed; 230 (77.4%) were performed in the Day Surgery Unit (DSU). Third- and fourth-degree haemorrhoids, second-degree haemorrhoids with no response to conservative treatment and several cases of rectal prolapse were included. The mean age of the patients in the series was 48.1 years (range 21-85). Preoperative preparation included phosphate enemas and antibiotic prophylaxis. Patients were operated on mainly under spinal anaesthesia. Day-case rate, postoperative pain (measured by a visual analogic scale, 1-10), admissions, re-admissions, early postoperative situation and recurrence were evaluated in the study. RESULTS: The overall DSU rate was 78%, with a progressive increase from 46% to 99% in 2008. One hundred and eighty-five patients (80%) had pain scores under 2; no patient had a pain score over 7. Eighteen (8%) patients required admission on the day of surgery. Late admission was needed for 3 (3%) patients. Thirty-three patients reported their situation as excellent, 174 as good, 20 as acceptable and three as bad when they answered a phone questionnaire 24 h after surgery. Overall, 20 (9%) patients had recurrence of symptoms. CONCLUSION: SA is a safe and effective procedure for prolapsing haemorrhoids in the day case setting. The recurrence rate is higher than that observed in classical haemorrhoidectomy. Most patients can be managed as day-cases.