title: Efﬁcacy of 10% sucralfate ointment after anal fistulotomy: A prospective, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The most frequent problems after anal fistulotomy are pain, bleeding, and delayed or impaired wound healing. Topical Sucralfate preparation has been used to treat a wide variety of wounds. In this study, we investigate effects of 10% sucralfate ointment on wound healing and postoperative pain after fistulotomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 41 patients undergoing anorectal fistulotomy were included in this randomized, blinded, controlled trial and were randomly allocated to either sucralfate ointment (every 12 h) or placebo. The patients were visited weekly for up to 5 weeks. The intensity of pain and the wound healing were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The sucralfate group had signiﬁcantly less pain at rest (1.92 ± 0.88 vs 2.96 ± 0.98; P = 0.002) and on defecation (1.68 ± 0.92 vs 3.08 ± 1.12; p < 0.001) than the placebo group from 1st to 5th post-operative visits. Complete wound healing was achieved after 8.15 ± 1 weeks in placebo group versus 5.9 ± 0.8 weeks in sucralfate group (p < 0.001). There were no significant differences in the frequencies of postoperative complications between the two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Compared with placebo, sucralfate ointment reduced postoperative pain at rest and on defecation and improves wound healing in patients undergoing fistulotomy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Imam Khomeini Hospital, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Mazandaran Province, Iran.
authors.forename: Mina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alvandipour
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Mazandaran Province, Iran. Electronic address: Sh204ala@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Shahram
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ala
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Imam Khomeini Hospital, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Mazandaran Province, Iran.
authors.forename: Hasan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tavakoli
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatics, Health Sciences Research Center, Faculty of Health, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Mazandaran Province, Iran.
authors.forename: Jamshid
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yazdani Charati
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Nephrology and Kidney Transplant Research Center, Faculty of Pharmacy, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran.
authors.forename: Afshin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shiva
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003672:Defecation; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009824:Ointments; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012003:Rectal Fistula / Q000601:surgery*; D013392:Sucralfate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D009824:Ointments; D013392:Sucralfate
keywords: Anorectal fistula; Fistulotomy; Sucralfate; Wound healing