Red hot chilli consumption is harmful in patients operated for anal fissure - a randomized, double-blind, controlled...

This study was aimed to determine whether there was any relationship between consumption of chillies and postoperative symptoms after closed anal sphincterotomy in patients with chronic anal fissure.

Patients were randomly assigned to receive analgesics and fiber supplement alone (control patients) or consumption of 1.5 g chilli powder twice daily along with identical fiber and analgesics (chilli group). The evaluation of symptoms (pain, anal burning, and pruritus) during the postoperative period was assessed by means of patients' self-questionnaires. The amount of analgesic tablets consumed and the frequency of stool during the study period were also noted.

28 patients were recruited in each arm. Postoperative symptoms were higher in the group consuming chillies during the first postoperative week. The global scores for postoperative pain (7.60 in chilli group and 2.95 in control group, p < 0.001) and for anal burning (8.85 for the chilli group vs. 4.21 for the control group, p < 0.0001) were significant.

This study shows that consumption of red chillies after anal fissure surgery should be forbidden to avoid postoperative symptoms.