[Role of endoanal ultrasonography in reducing anal fistula recurrence].
The aim of surgical treatment of fistula-in-ano is to eradicate the suppurative process permanently without compromising faecal continence. The appearance of a recurrence of fistula-in-ano is often due to non-identification of the internal opening by the surgeon, and to the presence of complex fistulae. We evaluated the clinical course of 214 patients in a randomised. controlled trial with respect to the recurrence rate of anal fistula with or without preoperative endoanal ultrasonography. In this study we demonstrate that endoanal ultrasonography was the most accurate diagnostic modality for detecting internal opening and complex fistulae. Therefore, endoanal ultrasonography is reliable and useful in the preoperative assessment of anal fistula, and particularly for decreasing the recurrence rate of this disease.
Area Funzionale di Chirurgia Generale, Dipartimento di Chirurgia, Ortopedia, Traumatologia ed Emergenze, A.O. Universitaria Federico II, Napoli.
Marco
M
Milone
Giuseppe
G
Pesce
Maddalena
M
Leongito
Francesco
F
Milone
D001003:Anal Canal; D006801:Humans; D012003:Rectal Fistula / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000601:surgery*; D012008:Recurrence; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods