Publication:

Clinical study of fistula in ano in patients attending surgical OPDs of a tertiary care teaching hospital, Central India

Background A fistula-in-ano is an abnormal hollow tract or cavity that is lined with granulation tissue and that connects a primary opening inside the anal canal to a secondary opening in the perianal skin; secondary tracts may be multiple and can extend from the same primary opening.

Methods All cases of clinically diagnosed fistulae-in-ano admitted in various surgical units in Index Medical College Hospital, Indore during the study period January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2017. A Preformed set of questionnaires will be prepared and tested and the same proforma will be used for the study of selected clinically diagnosed cases of Fistula-in-ano. Clinical history was obtained in all the patients. Clinical examination including per rectal and proctoscopic was done in required patients.

Results Total 44 cases of fistula in ano were selected randomly using closed envelope method and studied in detail the following results were obtained. In this present series, 56.81% of patients were in the age group of 31-60 years followed by 34.09% of patients were in the age group of 11-30 years. Only 9.09% of patients were in the age group above 60 years. About major clinical features were noted perianal discharge, pain, swelling and peri anal irritation were 75%, 65.91%, 43.18% and 11.36% respectively.

Conclusions Early diagnosis and appropriate management is the key to success. Fistula-in-ano forms a good majority of treatable benign lesions of rectum and anal canal. 90%or so of these cases are end results of cryptoglandular infections.