Management of an extrasphincteric fistula in an HIV-positive patient by using fibrin glue: a case report with tips and tricks.
BACKGROUND
Individuals with impaired immunity are at higher risk of perianal diseases. Concerning complex anal fistulas impaired healing and complication rates are also higher. Definitive treatment of a fistula aims controlling the purulent discharge and prevents its recurrence. It depends mainly on the trajectory of the fistula and the underlying disease. We present a case of a HIV-positive patient with a complex extrasphincteric anal fistula who was treated successfully with fibrin glue application. We further, discuss tips and tricks when applying fibrin glue as plugging material in complex anal fistulas.


METHODS
A sixty-one-year-old HIV-positive male referred to us for warts and extrasphincteric fistula. Because of the patients' immunological status, we opted against surgery and recommended fibrin glue plugging. The patient was discharged the same day. A follow-up examination was performed 5 days after the initial fibrin glue application showing that the fistula canal was obstructed. Three months and a year post-intervention the fistula tract remains closed.


CONCLUSIONS
The best treatment for a disease gives at least the same result with the other treatments with minimised risk for the life of the patient and minimal application effort. Conservative closure of fistula with fibrin plugging is simple, safe and with less morbidity than surgery. Our patient was successfully treated without endangering his life despite his precarious medical state. Not everybody believes in the effectiveness of fibrin glue application, however we consider this solution in cases of complex fistulas at least as primary procedure in special populations such as the immunosupressed.
3rd Department of Surgery, AHEPA University Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece. papavramidis@hotmail.com
Theodossis S
TS
Papavramidis
Ioannis
I
Pliakos
Dimitra
D
Charpidou
George
G
Petalotis
Panagiotis
P
Kollaras
Konstantinos
K
Sapalidis
Isaak
I
Kesisoglou
Spiros T
ST
Papavramidis
D015718:Fibrin Tissue Adhesive / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012003:Rectal Fistula / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D014014:Tissue Adhesives / Q000627:therapeutic use
D015718:Fibrin Tissue Adhesive; D014014:Tissue Adhesives