Effects of warm water sitz bath on symptoms in post-anal sphincterotomy in chronic anal fissure--a randomized and controlled study.
BACKGROUND
Sitz bath is frequently recommended by physicians for a variety of anal disorders including anal fissure. The aim of the present study was to determine whether sitz bath does have any therapeutic properties improving upon a patient's postoperative symptoms after a closed lateral sphincterotomy.


METHODS
Forty-six patients were randomly assigned to receive analgesics and fiber supplement alone (control patients) or a twice-daily sitz bath along with identical fiber and analgesics (sitz bath group). A 24-h pain score--post-defecation anal burning and symptom improvement--was evaluated on a visual analog scale (VAS).


RESULTS
The groups were equally matched for age, gender distribution, and duration of disease. No significant difference in mean pain score between groups (p = 0.284) was noticed after one week. However, the patients from the control group experienced significant anal burning compared with patients from sitz bath group (p < 0.0001). The improvement score was higher in the sitz bath group when compared with the control group; however, it did not reached a statistically significant level.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients after sphincterotomy for anal fissure receiving sitz bath experienced similar levels of pain when compared with those not receiving sitz bath. However, they reported a significant relief in anal burning and a marginally better satisfaction score and no reported adverse side effects.
Gupta
Pravin J
PJ
Gupta Nursing Home, Laxminagar, Nagpur 440022, India. drpjg_ngp@sancharnet.in
D000328:Adult; D001003:Anal Canal / Q000601:surgery*; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002908:Chronic Disease; D019343:Citric Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004008:Diclofenac / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005401:Fissure in Ano / Q000601:surgery* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D006875:Hydrotherapy; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017693:Sodium Bicarbonate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014945:Wound Healing
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D004338:Drug Combinations; D010936:Plant Extracts; D004008:Diclofenac; D019343:Citric Acid; C018299:citric acid, ispaghula husk, sodium bicarbonate drug combination; D017693:Sodium Bicarbonate