Evaluation of the efficacy of lanolin-based cream-balm in the treatment of anal canal wounds: A pilot study

Introduction . Wound healing of the anal canal and perineum after surgery is a complex process, often accompanied by prolonged recovery and the risk of non-healing wounds. There are 2 stages of postoperative rehabilitation. It is the second stage of rehabilitation that is the most difficult for the patient and the doctor. Aim . To study the effectiveness of lanolin Superlimf® cream-balm in the treatment of anal canal wounds and its practical application in the postoperative period in patients with benign diseases of the anal canal, rectum and perianal region. Materials and methods . A total of 15 patients (mean age 39 ± 7 years) who underwent hemorrhoidectomy were enrolled in the pilot interventional non-comparative study. The patients applied the cream-balm to the wounds 2 times a day starting from day 15 after surgery. The follow-up observation included monitoring of wound healing status, assessment of pain syndrome, discomfort, the nature of discharge and treatment satisfaction. The wound assessment and documentation of findings were conducted every 5 days. Results . Complete epithelialization of subcutaneous wounds within 45 days was recorded in 87% (13/15) of cases. At the same time, the effect of local therapy was completely satisfactory to patients, due to the low level of pain and discomfort in the anus, and the nature of the discharge. Cream-balm has shown a good safety profile, which is confirmed by the absence of adverse events. Discussion. When assessing effectiveness regarding skin wound healing, accelerated epithelialization and angiogenesis were observed with the use of MSC-CM (mesenchymal stem cell conditioned medium) compared to placebo. Cytokine proteins isolated from pig blood are suitable for humans due to their highly conserved structure and comparability of properties observed in different mammalian species, which makes it possible to model experimental data and approaches from one mammal to another. Conclusion . Cream-balm has demonstrated efficacy and safety in the treatment of wounds of the anal canal and perianal area.