ObjectiveTo analyze the effect of anal fistula clip (AFC) in the treatment of anal fistula, and to evaluate its safety. MethodsA historical cohort study method was conducted. Eighty-three patients with glandular transsphincteric anal fistula in the Xuzhou Central Hospital from September 2018 to May 2021 were collected, of which 42 patients underwent the AFC treatment (AFC group), 41 patients underwent the endorectal advancement flap (ERAF) treatment (ERAF group). The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, visual analogue scale (VAS) score of anus pain on postoperative day 1, 3, and 7, wound healing time, Wexner incontinence score of anal function on postoperative month 6, and clinical efficacy (healing and failure) were compared between the two groups. ResultsThe operation was successfully completed in both groups. The operation time and intraoperative blood loss in the AFC group were shorter or less than those in the ERAF group (P<0.05). No complications such as internal opening infection and bleeding occurred in the two groups. There were no statistical differences in the VAS score of postoperative anus pain at all time point between the two groups (P>0.05). The median follow-up time was 22 months. There was no statistical difference in the wound healing time between the two groups (P>0.05). The Wexner score of anal function in the AFC group was lower than that in the ERAF group (P<0.05), and there was no statistical difference between after operation and before operation (Z=–1.751, P=0.089) in the AFC group, while that in the ERAF group after operation was higher than before operation (Z=–1.859, P=0.014). The healing rate had no statistical difference between the AFC group and ERAF group (85.7% versus 77.5%, χ2=0.925, P=0.336). Conclusion From the results of this study, the AFC is safe and effective in treatment of anal fistula, with the advantages of relatively simple operation, less bleeding during operation, lighter postoperative pain, and good protection of anal function.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the value of real-time indocyanine green fluorescence imaging navigation (ICG-FIN) in laparoscopic rectal cancer surgery. MethodsThe patients who adopted ICG-FIN during laparoscopic rectal cancer surgery in the Department of Anorectal Surgery of Xuzhou Central Hospital from April 2022 to June 2023 according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria (ICG-FIN group) were collected, meanwhile matching (1∶1) of patients who did not adopt ICG-FIN during laparoscopic surgery from January 2021 to May 2022 (control group). The general data, surgical conditions, intraoperative and postoperative outcomes between the two groups were compared. ResultsThere were 62 patients in the ICG-FIN group and 62 patients in the control group. There were no statistical differences in the gender, age, body mass index, comorbidities, and so on between the two groups (P>0.05). The tumor localization, lymph node tracing, fluorescence imaging of the intended resection of intestinal tract and anastomotic site were observed in the ICG-FIN group. Seven patients (11.3%) had changed in the intended resection of intestinal anastomotic line during surgery, while there were no changes of the surgical plan in the control group. There were no statistical differences (P>0.05) in terms of surgical method, operative time, intraoperative bleeding, proportion of ileostomy, time of the first postoperative exhaust, postoperative hospital stay, and incidence of short-term complications between the two groups. Compared with the control group, the incidence of anastomotic leakage was lower (P=0.012), and the number of lymph nodes cleaned was more (P=0.016) in the ICG-FIN group. However, there was no statistical difference in the number of positive lymph nodes detected between the two groups (P=0.343). ConclusionsAccording to the results of this study, ICG-FIN is a reliable and effective method during laparoscopic rectal cancer surgery, which can accurately localize tumor, trace and guide lymph node dissection. Real-time evaluation of intestinal blood flow perfusion is of great practical value in reducing anastomotic leakage.