Abstract
Background
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a new procedure for the treatment of anal fistula. This preliminary study was designed to investigate the safety and effectiveness of this new technique in the treatment of anal fistula.
Methods
Ten patients were treated with PDT. Intralesional 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) 2% was directly injected into the fistula. The internal and external orifices were closed. After an incubation period of 2Â h, the fistula was irradiated using an optical fibre connected to a red laser (MULTIDIODE 630 PDT, INTERmedic, Spain) operating at 1Â W/cm for 3Â min (180Â Joules). Patient demographics, operation notes and complications were recorded.
Results
There were no complications. The average length of patient follow-up was 14.9 months (range 12–20 months). We could observe primary healing in eight patients (80%). Two patients (20%) showed persistence of suppuration after the operation. No patient reported incontinence postoperatively.
Conclusions
PDT is a potential sphincter-saving procedure that is safe, simple and minimally invasive and has a high success rate.
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The preliminary study was passed by the Ethics Committee.
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Arroyo, A., Moya, P., RodrÃguez-Prieto, M.A. et al. Photodynamic therapy for the treatment of complex anal fistula. Tech Coloproctol 21, 149–153 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10151-016-1571-y
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10151-016-1571-y