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Journal of the Anus, Rectum and Colon 2022Recent trends in benign anal disease treatment are minimizing surgery to preserve normal anorectal anatomical unit and its functions. However, some surgeons still prefer... (Review)
Review
Recent trends in benign anal disease treatment are minimizing surgery to preserve normal anorectal anatomical unit and its functions. However, some surgeons still prefer and are confident with the use of conventional solid surgical methods. In this report, we will investigate the recent trends in the treatment for hemorrhoids, fistula, and anal fissure. The practice guidelines of advanced countries, including UK, Italy, France, USA, Japan, and ESCP, are referred to in this review. Opinions suggested in international meetings were also added. In the management of hemorrhoids, surgical treatments and office procedures were recommended according to a patient's status and preference. For the management of complex anal fistula, novel sphincter-preserving surgical techniques are more widely accepted than a sphincter-dividing procedure of immediate repair following fistulectomy. The treatment of anal fissures is well covered in the guidelines of the ASCRS.
PubMed: 35979269
DOI: 10.23922/jarc.2022-012 -
Korean Journal of Radiology Jan 2022Gastrointestinal (GI) emergencies in neonates and infants encompass from the beginning to the end of the GI tract. Both congenital and acquired conditions can cause... (Review)
Review
Gastrointestinal (GI) emergencies in neonates and infants encompass from the beginning to the end of the GI tract. Both congenital and acquired conditions can cause various GI emergencies in neonates and infants. Given the overlapping or nonspecific clinical findings of many different neonatal and infantile GI emergencies and the unique characteristics of this age group, appropriate imaging is key to accurate and timely diagnosis while avoiding unnecessary radiation hazard and medical costs. In this paper, we discuss the radiological findings of essential neonatal and infantile GI emergencies, including esophageal atresia and tracheoesophageal fistula, hypertrophic pyloric stenosis, duodenal atresia, malrotation, midgut volvulus for upper GI emergencies, and jejunoileal atresia, meconium ileus, meconium plug syndrome, meconium peritonitis, Hirschsprung disease, anorectal malformation, necrotizing enterocolitis, and intussusception for lower GI emergencies.
Topics: Diagnostic Imaging; Duodenal Obstruction; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Intestinal Atresia; Intussusception
PubMed: 34983099
DOI: 10.3348/kjr.2021.0111 -
American Family Physician Jan 2020Common anorectal conditions include hemorrhoids, perianal pruritus, anal fissures, functional rectal pain, perianal abscess, condyloma, rectal prolapse, and fecal... (Review)
Review
Common anorectal conditions include hemorrhoids, perianal pruritus, anal fissures, functional rectal pain, perianal abscess, condyloma, rectal prolapse, and fecal incontinence. Although these are benign conditions, symptoms can be similar to those of cancer, so malignancy should be considered in the differential diagnosis. History and examination, including anoscopy, are usually sufficient for diagnosing these conditions, although additional testing is needed in some situations. The primary treatment for hemorrhoids is fiber supplementation. Patients who do not improve and those with large high-grade hemorrhoids should be referred for surgery. Acutely thrombosed external hemorrhoids should be excised. Perianal pruritus should be treated with hygienic measures, barrier emollients, and low-dose topical corticosteroids. Capsaicin cream and tacrolimus ointment are effective for recalcitrant cases. Treatment of acute anal fissures with pain and bleeding involves adequate fluid and fiber intake. Chronic anal fissures should be treated with topical nitrates or calcium channel blockers, with surgery for patients who do not respond to medical management. Patients with functional rectal pain should be treated with warm baths, fiber supplementation, and biofeedback. Patients with superficial perianal abscesses not involving the sphincter should undergo office-based drainage; patients with more extensive abscesses or possible fistulas should be referred for surgery. Condylomata can be managed with topical medicines, excision, or destruction. Patients with rectal prolapse should be referred for surgical evaluation. Biofeedback is a first-line treatment for fecal incontinence, but antidiarrheal agents are useful if diarrhea is involved, and fiber and laxatives may be used if impaction is present. Colostomy can help improve quality of life for patients with severe fecal incontinence.
Topics: Anus Diseases; Diagnosis, Differential; Evidence-Based Medicine; Female; Humans; Male; Practice Guidelines as Topic
PubMed: 31894930
DOI: No ID Found -
International Journal of Surgery... Sep 2019Despite a burgeoning literature during the last two decades regarding perioperative risk management of anal fistula, little is known about its risk factors that... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Despite a burgeoning literature during the last two decades regarding perioperative risk management of anal fistula, little is known about its risk factors that influence postoperative recurrence. We performed a meta-analysis to summarize and assess the credibility of evidence of potential risk factors for anal fistula recurrence (AFR) after surgery.
METHODS
Pubmed and EMBASE without language restriction were searched from inception to April 2018 that reported risk factors which predisposed recurrence after anal fistula surgery. We excluded studies that involved patients with anal fistula associated with Crohn's disease. MOOSE guidelines were followed when this meta-analysis was performed. We used random-effects models to pool relative risks (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Evidence from observational studies was graded into high-quality (Class I), moderate-quality (Class II/III) and low-quality (Class IV) based on Egger's P value, total sample size and between-study heterogeneity.
RESULTS
Of 3514 citations screened, 20 unique observational studies comprising 6168 patients were involved in data synthesis. High-quality evidence showed that AFR was associated with high transsphincteric fistula (RR, 4.77; 95% CI, 3.83 to 5.95), internal opening unidentified (RR, 8.54; 95% CI, 5.29 to 13.80), and horseshoe extensions (RR, 1.92; 95% CI, 1.43 to 2.59). Moderate-quality evidence suggested an association with prior anal surgery (RR, 1.52; 95% CI, 1.04 to 2.23), seton placement surgery (RR, 2.97; 95% CI, 1.10 to 8.06), and multiple fistula tract (RR, 4.77; 95% CI, 1.46 to 15.51). High-quality evidence demonstrated no significant association with gender or smoking; moderate-quality evidence also suggested no association with age, tertiary referral, alcohol use, diabetes mellitus, obesity, preoperative seton drainage, high internal opening, postoperative drainage, mucosal advancement flap surgery, supralevator extensions, location or type of anal fistula.
CONCLUSION
Several patient, surgery and fistula-related factors are significantly associated with postoperative AFR. These findings strengthen clinical awareness of early warning to identify patients with high-risk disease recurrence for AFR.
Topics: Adult; Female; Humans; Male; Postoperative Complications; Rectal Fistula; Recurrence; Risk Factors
PubMed: 31400504
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijsu.2019.08.003 -
Cureus Dec 2020Crohn's disease (CD) is a transmural inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that can affect any part of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. With the disease's progression,... (Review)
Review
Crohn's disease (CD) is a transmural inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that can affect any part of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. With the disease's progression, adhesions and transmural fissuring, intra-abdominal abscesses, and fistula tracts may develop. An anal fistula (or fistula-in-ano) is a chronic abnormal epithelial lined tract communicating the anorectal lumen (internal opening) to the perineal or buttock skin (external opening). The risk of fistula development varies from 14%-38%. It can cause significant morbidity, which adversely impacts the quality of life. It is mostly believed that an anal crypt gland infection causes anal abscesses, leading to fistula development. Crohn's disease's pathogenesis involves Th1 and Th17 hypersensitivity due to an unknown antigen within the intestinal mucosa. Evidence to support this review was gathered via the Pubmed database. Search terms used were combinations of "Perianal fistula," "seton," "immunotherapy." Studies were reviewed and cross-referenced for additional reports. Setons are surgical thread loops passed from the external to the internal opening of the fistula tract and exteriorized through the anorectal canal, facilitating abscess drainage and inciting a local inflammatory reaction, thus promoting the resolution of the fistula. Biologicals such as anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) antibody (infliximab, adalimumab, certolizumab), anti-IL-12/23 (ustekinumab), and anti-α₄β₇ integrin antibody (vedolizumab) have been approved for Crohn's disease targeting the Th1/Th17-mediated inflammation. Other therapeutic modalities are fistulotomy, cyanoacrylate glue, bioprosthetic plugs, mucosal advancement flap, ligation of inter-sphincteric fistula tract (LIFT), diverting stoma, proctectomy, video-assisted anal fistula treatment (VAAFT), and fistula laser closure (FiLaC). Our review found that chronic seton therapy should be the primary approach, especially if the patient has a perianal abscess. It has a low incidence of re-intervention, recurrent abscess formation, and side-branching of the fistulous tract, with preservation of the fistulous tract's patency and cost-effectiveness. The major disadvantage of seton therapy is the discomfort and time to achieve stability. Among the biologicals, infliximab is the only therapy which has a statistically significant effect on the healing rate of perianal Crohn's fistula compared to placebo, but the major disadvantage associated with anti-TNF as sole therapy is high re-intervention rate, prolong maintenance therapy, high recurrence rate, and severe side effects. We hypothesize that the two aspects should be addressed concurrently to increase the fistula healing or closure rate. First, the seton should be used as initial therapy to maintain tract patency to allow abscess drainage and minimize the intestinal flora colonization within the tract mucosa, thereby leukocytic infiltration and propagation of inflammation within the tract. The second aspect that has to be considered is that we should target the initial stimulation of the Th1/Th17 mediated hypersensitivity instead of a factor/cytokine involved in the inflammation mediation. Although the unknown antigen triggering such hypersensitivity is not clear, we could target the RAR-related orphan receptor γ (RORγ)-T (transcription factor involved in activation of Th17 cells) and the T-bet (transcription factor involved in activation of Th17 cells) within the GI mucosa by a novel target immune therapy.
PubMed: 33415035
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.11882 -
Clinics in Colon and Rectal Surgery Mar 2016Rectovaginal fistulae are abnormal epithelialized connections between the rectum and vagina. Fistulae from the anorectal region to the posterior vagina are truly best... (Review)
Review
Rectovaginal fistulae are abnormal epithelialized connections between the rectum and vagina. Fistulae from the anorectal region to the posterior vagina are truly best characterized as anovaginal or very low rectovaginal fistulae. True rectovaginal fistulae are less common and result from inflammatory bowel disease, trauma, or iatrogenic injury. A very few patients are asymptomatic, but the symptoms of rectovaginal fistula are incredibly distressing and unacceptable. Diagnostic approach, timing, and choice of surgical intervention, including sphincteroplasty, gracilis flaps, Martius flaps, and special circumstances are discussed.
PubMed: 26929752
DOI: 10.1055/s-0035-1570393