title: Pharmacological advancements in the treatment of chronic anal fissure.
abstract: Chronic anal fissure is a tear in the lining of the anal canal that, if not treated appropriately at an early stage, causes considerable anal pain during defaecation. Surgery is no longer considered the first-line treatment of this common condition, as recent advancements in medical treatment has produced promising results in the healing of fissures, thus avoiding the unwanted complications that frequently occur following operative treatment. This review looks at those pharmacological agents used commonly in the treatment of chronic anal fissures and explores alternative therapies that may be of benefit in the future.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham, NG7 2UH, UK. austin.acheson@doctors.org.uk
authors.forename: Austin G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Acheson
authors.forename: John H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Scholefield
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000420:Albuterol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001905:Botulinum Toxins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002217:Carbachol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002491:Central Nervous System Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018679:Cholinergic Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002908:Chronic Disease; D000529:Complementary Therapies; D004110:Diltiazem / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005401:Fissure in Ano / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007217:Indoramin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009566:Nitrates / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005996:Nitroglycerin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
chemical_list: D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists; D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D002491:Central Nervous System Agents; D018679:Cholinergic Agonists; D009566:Nitrates; D007217:Indoramin; D002217:Carbachol; D001905:Botulinum Toxins; D004110:Diltiazem; D005996:Nitroglycerin; D000420:Albuterol