Diagnosis and surgical tactics in recurrent extrasphincteric fistulas of the rectum

Aim. To increase the effectiveness of surgical treatment in patients with recurrent forms of extrasphincteric rectal fistula. Material and Methods. Clinical data of 108 patients with recurrent extrasphincteric rectal fistulas were analysed. The patients were divided into two groups. The first, the main group, included 58 (53.7%) patients who underwent improved and developed surgical procedures. The second, control group, included 50 (46.3%) patients who were treated with traditional, well-known methods.In 6 (5.6%) cases grade I complexity of extrasphincteric recurrent rectal fistula was observed, in 23 (21.3%) cases grade II, in 62 (57.4%) cases grade III and in 17 (15.7%) cases grade IV complexity of fistula was observed. Results. In 13 (26.0%) cases, patients in the control group underwent surgery using the ligature method, and in 37 (74.0%) patients various known plastic surgery methods were used to close the internal hole. In patients with recurrent complex horseshoe-shaped extrasphincteric fistulas from the main group, a three-stage surgical procedure was performed, developed and improved in our clinic (n=18) to prevent disease recurrence and reduce the incidence of postoperative complications. In 21 (36.2%) patients, the method we developed for surgical correction of recurrent rectal fistulas of grade III-IV complexity with an extrasphincteric course was used. Conclusion. The developed and improved methods of surgical correction of recurrent extrasphincteric fistulas of the rectum allow radical excision of scar-inflammatory altered parafistula tissue, especially in fistulas of III-IV degree of complexity. These methods help to minimise both early and late postoperative complications, in particular they reduce the frequency of disease recurrence.