Scanner-Assisted CO2 Laser Fissurectomy: A Pilot Study

Introduction: Surgery for chronic anal fissure is challenging for every proctologist. Solving the pain by guaranteeing rapid and effective healing is the objective, but what is the price to pay today in functional terms? Though this result is nowadays partially achievable through interventions that include the execution of an internal sphincterotomy among the procedures, it is necessary to underline the high rate of patients who can present faecal incontinence. The aim of this study is to explore the effectiveness of scanner-assisted CO2 laser fissurectomy.Methods: From April 2021 to September 2021, all consecutive patients who affected by chronic anal fissure suitable for surgery, meeting the inclusion and exclusion criteria, were evaluated. All planned data were recorded before surgery, then at 24 h, 1 week, and 1 month follow-up. A scanner-assisted CO2 laser was used in this study to achieve a smooth and dried wound with a minimal tissue thermal damage, to ensure good postsurgical pain control, rapid and functional, elastic and stable healing, and to prevent potential relapses. Paracetamol 1 g every 8 h was prescribed for the first 24 h and then continued according to each patient's need. Ketorolac 15 mg was prescribed as rescue.Results: Mean pain intensity ≤3, considered as the principal endpoint, was recorded in 26 out of the 29 patients who enrolled in the study with a final success rate of 89.7% at 1-month follow-up. Pain and anal itching showed a statistically significant reduction while bleeding, burning, and maximum pain, and REALIS score showed a reduction too at the end of the follow-up period. Reepithelisation proved to be extremely fast and effective: 22 of 29 (75.9%) showed a complete healing and 5 showed a partial reepithelisation at 1-month follow-up.Discussion: Outcomes of this study showed that it is undoubtedly necessary to change the surgical approach in case of anal fissure. The internal sphincterotomy procedure must be most of all questioned, where the availability of cutting-edge technological tools must be avoided and offered only in selected cases. Scanner-assisted CO2 laser showed great results in terms of pain control and wound healing, secondary to an extremely precise ablation, vaporisation, and debridement procedures with minimal lateral thermal damage.

A Cross Sectional Study on the Outcome of Rubber Band Ligation in third Degree Hemorrhoids

Objective: To determine the outcome of rubber band ligation in third degree hemorrhoids. Methods: - This design of this study was cross sectional study. The study was conducted at Shalamar medical and dental college, Lahore and the duration of this study was from April 2020 to September 2021. 215 patients were seen with complain of hemorrhoids, of which 47 had 3rd degree hemorrhoids. All patients with 3rd degree hemorrhoids underwent for rubber band ligation and were enrolled in the study. Outcome in our study was defined as pain, bleeding, constipation, anal fissure/fistula and infection. Chi- square test (χ2) of all qualitative variables was applied by taking p-value < 0.05 as significant. Results: - Of 47 patients admitted with 3rd degree hemorrhoid, 30 were males and 17 were females. The mean age of males was 38.78±12.71 while mean females age were found to be 22.73± 7.25 respectively. The most common complaint following rubber band ligation (RBL) was pain. 19 out of 47 patients were presented with pain followed by bleeding (14), constipation (13), anal fissure/fistula (10) and infection (8) which constitutes about 22.34 %, 22.78%15.32% and 14.03% respectively. There was significant relationship found between gender and anal fissure/fistula with p-value of <0.05. Conclusion: - Patients with 3rd degree hemorrhoids after RBL procedure showed fewer complications comparable to other surgical procedures in the treatment of hemorrhoids. It is the best possible options in third degree internal hemorrhoids. Moreover, this procedure is simple and cost-effective and requires no hospitalization, no anesthesia and no post-operative care. Keywords: - 3rd degree Hemorrhoids, Outcome, Rubber Band Ligation.