Fistulotomy without external sphincter division for high anal fistulae

Thirty-two patients with high trans-sphincteric or suprasphincteric fistulae underwent fistulotomy without external sphincter division. Fifteen patients had posterior fistulae involving the deep postanal space and 17 patients had anterior fistulae. Primary healing, after removal of the seton, occurred in 25 of the 32 patients (78 per cent). Primary healing in patients with posterior fistulae occurred in 66 per cent and in 88 per cent of patients with anterior fistulae. Following surgery, eight patients (33 per cent) reported problems controlling flatus, six patients (25 per cent) reported mucous discharge and one patient (4 per cent) complained of occasional incontinence for liquid stool. No patient experienced problems controlling solid stool nor did any patient require the use of a protective pad. These results have encouraged us to use this method as the initial procedure of choice for these more difficult fistulae. A significant number of patients can be cured of their fistula while preserving the external sphincter, thereby minimizing the impact of surgical therapy on continence.