Mucosal advancement in the treatment of anal fistula.
One hundred eighty-nine patients with anal fistula treated within an eight-month to seven-year period by anal fistulectomy and rectal mucosal advancement are presented. An 80 percent follow-up revealed a 90 percent asymptomatic group and a ten percent group who had minor symptoms. Eight percent of the symptomatic patients had minor soiling; 7 percent were incontinent for gas, and 6 percent were incontinent for loose stools. No patient was incontinent for solid feces. There was a 1.5 percent rate of recurrent anal fistula comparable to other techniques.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001003:Anal Canal / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008722:Methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D012003:Rectal Fistula / Q000601:surgery*