Publication:

A comparative study for management of fissure in ano with glycerin-trinitrate and lignocaine ointment: a randomized control trial

Background Anal fissure is a very common benign anorectal disorder with significant morbidity among otherwise healthy individuals. Of all the patients coming to our OPD 15-20% have anal fissure. So there arises need to study the best and most compliant conservative treatment modality.

Methods Study was randomized, prospective, observational and longitudinal including 200 patients of age group 18-60 equally divided in 2 groups. Group A given 0.2% GTN ointment and group B given lignocaine ointment.

Results Better and early and sustained symptomatic relief was noted with GTN compared to lignocaine. 80% cases showed complete healing by 8 weeks with GTN compared to 52% healing with lignocaine. Headache was main side effect with GTN. Recurrence rate was high with lignocaine.

Conclusions Topical GTN has a statistically and clinically significant success rate for fissure healing and pain improvement at 8 weeks compared to lignocaine ointment (80% vs. 52%). It came at the cost of clinically acceptable level of morbidity (headache).