Use of radiofrequency in the treatment of minor anal pathology.
BACKGROUND
Conventional approaches dealing with chronic anal fissures focus on relieving the anal spasm by manipulation of the internal sphincter. The concomitant pathologies like sentinel piles, anal papillae, or haemorrhoids, however, are often ignored for unknown reasons.


METHODS
This study describes radiofrequency procedures to remove the above named associated pathologies after performing anal sphincterotomy. A separate, blinded and prospective study between conventional and radiofrequency excision of sentinel pile is described. The measured parameters included the procedure time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative pain and wound healing time.


RESULTS
This combined technique was found useful in treating anal fissures as well as the associated pathologies. The comparative study showed that the intraoperative bleeding was less (p < 0.0001) and wound healing was faster (p < 0.0001) in the radiofrequency group.


CONCLUSIONS
Radiofrequency can be used as an alternative in treating pathologies like the sentinel tags, anal papillae, post fissure fistula or non prolapsing haemorrhoids found associated with anal fissures.
Department of General Surgery, Gupta Nursing Home, Nagpur, India. drpjg@yahoo.co.in
P J
PJ
Gupta
D001004:Anus Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000379:methods; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index