Background: Achieving a complete cure while maintaining continence constitutes a considerable challenge in the treatment of patients with high anal fistula. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of loose combined cutting seton (LCCS) for treating patients with high intersphincteric fistula.Methods: Consecutive patients with high intersphincteric fistula who underwent LCCS were retrospectively enrolled. Patient data including demographics, medical history, comorbidities, details of the fistula, operative procedure, and prognosis were collected. Postoperative pain was assessed using a visual analog scale (VAS), which ranged from 0 (no pain) to 10 (extremely severe pain). The severity of fecal incontinence was assessed using the Wexner Continence Grading Scale, with a total score ranging from 0 (no incontinence) to 20 (complete incontinence). The primary outcome was the healing rate of fistula. Secondary outcomes included the recurrence rate of fistula and the severity of fecal incontinence. Results:The 22 patients (male: female =18:4) in our study had a median follow-up of 55 (range, 32-568) days. The healing rate was 100%, and none of the patients experienced fistula recurrence. At the follow-up visit, 19 patients (86.4%) reported no fecal incontinence. The median total Wexner score was 0.95.5% patients had VAS score of 0 and only 1 patient (4.5%) had a VAS score of 1, which indicated a low level of postoperative pain.Conclusions: LCCS achieved a high healing rate with an increased level of continence, as well as a low level of postoperative pain, in most patients with high anal fistula in our study. Further randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm the effectiveness of this novel seton-based technique.

Background:Several studies have investigated the association between smoking and anal abscess and anal fistula (AA/F) diseases. However, the relationship between cigarette smoking and AA/F remains unclear. This study sought to assess the role of smoking in anorectal male patients in a Chinese population.Methods:In this retrospective study, a questionnaire, including smoking history, was completed over a 3-month period by male inpatients in the Proctology Department of China-Japan Friendship Hospital. “Cases” were patients who had AA/F, and “controls” were patients with other anorectal complaints. Mann-Whitney U-test and Chi-square test were carried out to examine differences in baseline characteristics between groups. Subsequently, multivariate logistic regression was used to explore any related factors.Results:A total of 977 patients aged from 18 to 80 years were included, excluding those diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease or diabetes mellitus. Out of this total, 805 patients (82.4%) completed the entire questionnaire. Among the 805 patients, 334 (41.5%) were cases and 471 (58.5%) were controls. Results showed significant differences between cases and controls (χ2 = 205.2, P < 0.001), with smoking found to be associated with the development of AA/F diseases (odds ratio: 12.331, 95% confidence interval: 8.364–18.179, P < 0.001).Conclusions:This study suggested smoking to be a potential risk factor for the development of AA/F diseases in a Chinese population. Consequently, current smoking patients should be informed of this relationship, and further research should be conducted to explore and investigate this further.

Background: The treatment of high anal fistula (HAF) is still difficult for clinical surgeons. Our previous study demonstrated the short-term benefit of loose combined cutting seton (LCCS) for patients with HAF.This study aimed to evaluate the long-term effectiveness of LCCS for treating HAF patients.Methods: We retrospectively enrolled consecutive HAF patients who received LCCS therapy in our hospital between March 2014 and July 2017. After enrollment, all patients were followed up by clinical review. The patients' clinical information and most recent follow-up results were collected. Pain was assessed by the visual analog scale (VAS), and the severity of fecal incontinence was assessed by the Wexner Continence Grading Scale. We also assessed the patients' quality of life (QOL) using a the MOS item short from health survey (SF-36) questionnaire. HAF healing was considered the primary outcome, while the fistula recurrence rate, severity of fecal incontinence, and QOL were the secondary outcomes.Results: In total, 22 patients (18 male, four female) were enrolled in the final analysis. The mean duration of follow-up was 3.65 years (interquartile range: 3.55-4.22; range, 3.50-5.43). All patients were cured and there was no recurrence during the follow-up period. Eight patients reported a Wexner score of 1, while the remaining patients reported a score of 0 at the final follow-up. Furthermore, one patient had a VAS score of 1, while the remaining patients had a VAS score of 0, which indicated almost no postoperative pain. The QOL of all patients improved significantly.Conclusions: LCCS is an effective method to treat HAF patients. Large, multicenter randomized controlled trials are warranted.

Background Hemorrhoids are common. Hemorrhoidectomy should typically be offered to patients whose symptoms result from external hemorrhoids or combined internal and external hemorrhoids with prolapse (grades III/IV). However, none of the currently used surgical methods could be considered an ideal surgical option that is effective, safe, and painless. We hypothesized that a combination of Ruiyun procedure for hemorrhoids (RPH) and simplified Milligan–Morgan hemorrhoidectomy (sMMH) will increase the safety and effectiveness of surgical treatment hemorrhoids. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of Ruiyun procedure for hemorrhoids combined simplified Milligan–Morgan hemorrhoidectomy with dentate line-sparing (RPH + sMMH) to treat grade III/IV hemorrhoid. Methods Total 452 patients with hemorrhoids of grade III/IV were retrospectively reviewed in China-Japan Friendship Hospital, 244 cases were assigned to RPH + sMMH group, and 208 cases in MMH group. The primary efficacy outcome was rate of curative at 3 month after operation, and the recurrence rate within 12 months post operation. Secondary efficacy outcomes included wound healing time, time required to resume normal work, constipation symptom, quality of life, and pain post operation was also evaluated. The safety outcome included postoperative complications. Results There were no differences between the two groups in demographic characteristics. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in the curative rate. The recurrence rate after 12 months post operation in the RPH + sMMH (3.0%) was significantly lower than the sMMH group (7.8%) (P = 0.032). The wound healing time was significantly shorter in RPH + sMMH group than that in MMH group (P < 0.001). The time required to resume normal work in the RPH + sMMH group was significantly shorter than MMH group (P < 0.001). Compared with the MMH group, the RPH + sMMH therapy preserve better life quality and lower constipation symptom (all P < 0.05). Patients who underwent RPH + sMMH had significantly less postoperative pain than MMH therapy. The total rate of patients with postoperative complications in the RPH + sMMH group (8.6%) was significant lower than the MMH group (16.3%) (P = 0.012). Conclusion RPH + sMMH may more effective in treating patients with III/IV hemorrhoids, which indicated lower recurrence rate, lower postoperative complications and pain, shorter recovery and return to normal life.

This study aimed to compare the efficacy between decompression and drainage seton (DADS) and cutting seton (CS) in the treatment of high complex anal fistula. Patients were randomly assigned 1:1 to DADS or CS group. The primary outcome was the rate of wound healing. Second outcomes included time taken to return to work, postoperative pain, the severity of fecal incontinence and other complications. A total of 120 patients with a mean age of 39 years were included. There was no significant difference in the rate of complete wound healing at 1 year. The mean time taken to return to work was 5 ± 2 days in DADS group, shorter than CS group (10 ± 3, p < 0.001). Mean vaizey incontinence score and the post-operation pain in DADS group was significantly lower than CS group. No significant difference was found between two groups in the incidence of complications. DADS is as effective as Cutting seton for the treatment of high complex anal fistula but is associated with less postoperative pain and better sphincter function preserving.

Background: Surgery is the clinically preferred treatment for high perianal abscesses. Incision and seton drainage improve the cure rate and reduce recurrence. We aimed to systematically evaluate the clinical effect and safety of incision and seton drainage in the treatment of high perianal abscess.Methods: China Knowledge Network (CNKI), WanFang database, VIP database, PubMed, and Cochrane Library were searched and all relevant Chinese and English language documents until July 2021were retrieved. All records that described randomized clinical trials (RCTs) of incision and seton drainage for the treatment of high perianal abscess were eligible. Documents that met the inclusion criteria were evaluated for bias using the Cochrane Collaboration Risk Evaluation Standard, and Revman5.4 software was used to analyze the data.Results: Fourteen RCTs were included. The results of nine studies showed that the clinical cure rate of the incision-seton group was higher than that of the incision-drainage group (P<0.05). Seven studies showed that the wound healing time of the incision-seton group was shorter than that of the incision-drainage group (P<0.05). Four studies showed that the visual analogue scale (VAS) score of the incision-seton group was lower than that of the incision-drainage group (P<0.05). Five studies showed that the Wexner score of the incision-seton group was lower than that of the incision-drainage group (P<0.05). Six studies showed that the formation rate of anal fistula in the incision-seton group was lower than that in the incision-drainage group (P<0.05). Six studies demonstrated that the recurrence rate of abscess in the incision-seton group was lower than that in the incision-drainage group (P<0.05). Seven studies showed that the incidence of adverse events in the incision-seton group was lower than that in the incision-drainage group (P<0.05). Five studies demonstrated that the length of stay in the incision-seton group was shorter than that of the incisiondrainage group (P<0.05).Discussion: The choice of surgical methods in clinical research has always been controversial. The incision-seton method can effectively and safely treat high perianal abscess. However, the results of this meta-analysis still leave some gaps in the evidence. More large-sample, high-quality, and multi-center RCTs are needed.

Background: High perianal abscess is an emergency in the anorectal department. It can result in longterm pain and a huge psychological burden to patients, and seriously affects the quality of life of patients. At present, the effect of antibiotics alone for high perianal abscess is not satisfactory. Loose combined cutting seton (LCCS) can effectively treat high anal fistulas and high perianal abscesses in our clinical practice, but there is no sufficient evidence for its effectiveness in the treatment of high perianal abscesses. The purpose of this study is to observe the effectiveness and safety of LCCS in the treatment of high perianal abscess.Methods: This study is a single-center, prospective, single-blind, randomized, controlled, non-inferiority clinical study. This study will include patients who are diagnosed with high perianal abscesses and hospitalized for surgery in the Department of Proctology in China-Japan Friendship Hospital (enrollment time: from January 2022 through December 2024). Patients in the experimental group will be treated with LCCS, while patients in the control group will be treated with incision and drainage. Follow-ups will be performed at 1, 3, 7, 14, 21, 28, 90, and 180 days after the operation. The main outcome measures are as follows: (I) cure rate; (II) half-year recurrence rate; (III) postoperative pain visual analog scale (VAS) score; (IV) wound healing time; (V) postoperative anal function evaluation by the Wexner scale; (VI) pressure measurement of the anal canal and rectum before and at half a year after surgery; and (VII) the incidence of adverse events.Discussion: This study will assess the effectiveness and safety of LCCS in the treatment of high perianal abscess through a strictly designed randomized controlled study, and provides evidence for treatment in clinical practice, thereby improving the treatment effect and improving patients' quality of life.

Background: Suprasphincteric anal fistula is a type of high anal fistula. The traditional method of cutting seton (CS) has a high recurrence rate and can cause severe damage to the anal sphincter and anal incontinence. The combination of loose and cutting seton is a novel method developed on the basis of the traditional cutting seton technique, and has already been adopted by some clinicians in China. This study will examine the effectiveness and safety of the loose combined cutting seton (LCCS) technique for the treatment of suprasphincteric anal fistulas.Methods: This is a single-blinded randomized controlled trial conducted in the Anorectal Department of the China-Japan Friendship Hospital. A total of 76 patients diagnosed with suprasphincteric anal fistula will be randomly divided into two groups. One group will be treated with the LCCS method (the LCCS group; n=38) and the other group will be treated with the traditional CS method (the CS group; n=38).There will be 3 intervention periods, including the screening period, the surgical treatment period, and the postoperative follow-up period. Postoperative follow-up will be carried out on days 3, 5, 7, 14, 21, 28, 90, 180, and 365 after the operation. The main outcome measures are the complete cure rate of postoperative wounds and fistulas, the long-term recurrence rate, and evaluation of postoperative anal function (Wexner anal function assessment and anal function questionnaire). The secondary outcomes are the visual analogue scale (VAS) score for postoperative pain, pressure measurements of the anal canal and rectum before and after treatment, and the incidence of adverse events. All statistical results will be analyzed using the SPSS software 21.0 version. P values <0.05 will be considered statistically significant.Discussion: This research introduces a novel method for the treatment of suprasphincteric anal fistulas.The LCCS method will be compared with the traditional CS method in terms of safety and efficacy. If the LCCS technique is a safe and effective treatment for suprasphincteric anal fistula, its clinical application should be promoted.