Advances in Clinical and Experimental Medicine

Title abbreviation: Adv Clin Exp Med
JCR Impact Factor (IF) – 1.736
5-Year Impact Factor – 2.135
Index Copernicus  – 168.52
MEiN – 70 pts

ISSN 1899–5276 (print)
ISSN 2451-2680 (online)
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Advances in Clinical and Experimental Medicine

Ahead of print

doi: 10.17219/acem/161162

Publication type: research-in-progress

Language: English

License: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0)

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Durgun C, Tüzün A. The use of a loose seton as a definitive surgical treatment for anorectal abscesses and complex anal fistulas [published online as ahead of print on March 15, 2023]. Adv Clin Exp Med. 2023. doi:10.17219/acem/161162

The use of a loose seton as a definitive surgical treatment for anorectal abscesses and complex anal fistulas

Cemalettin Durgun1,A,B,C,D,E,F, Abidin Tüzün2,A,B,C,D,E,F

1 Clinic of General Surgery, Memorial Dicle Hospital, Diyarbakır, Turkey

2 Department of General Surgery, Gazi Yaşargil Education and Research Hospital, Health Science University, Diyarbakır, Turkey

Abstract

Background. There is no consensus regarding the standard treatment method for anorectal abscesses accompanied by anal fistulas and complex anal fistulas. Simultaneous surgical treatment of the underlying anal fistula with anorectal abscess drainage is controversial due to incontinence problems.
Objectives. We aimed to investigate the effectiveness of the loose seton method for the treatment of chronic anal fistulas and acute anorectal abscesses accompanied by anal fistula.
Material and Methods. In this retrospective study, 114 patients who were operated on in our clinic due to chronic anal fistulas and anorectal abscesses with an applied loose seton between 2020 and 2022 were included in the study. The patients were divided into 2 groups: those with chronic complex anal fistula and those with anorectal abscess accompanied by anal fistula. The groups were compared in terms of their continence status, rate of recurrence, recurrent abscess formation, postoperative pain scores, duration of operation, and demographic characteristics.
Results. Of the patients included in the study, 78 had a complex chronic anal fistula, and 36 had an anorectal abscess accompanied by an anal fistula. There were no differences between the demographic characteristics of the 2 groups. The mean seton dissociation time was 6.8 (3–19) months. Gas or stool leakage was not observed in patients during the mean follow-up period of 18 (6–30) months. There was no difference in postoperative continence levels between the 2 groups. No recurrent fistulas were observed in patients during the follow-up period. Recurrent abscesses were observed in 5 (13.9%) patients in the anorectal abscess group. Abscesses due to insufficient drainage were observed in 2 (2.6%) patients in the chronic fistula group. There was no significant difference in operation time between the 2 groups.
Conclusion. A loose seton can be a safe and effective method for the treatment of abscesses. It is a painless surgical method that produces good results in the treatment of all types of abscesses.

Key words

fecal incontinence, anorectal abscess, anal fistula, loose seton

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