Modern management of anal fistula

Ideal surgical treatment for anal fistula should aim to eradicate sepsis and promote healing of the tract,whilst preserving the sphincters and the mechanism of continence.For the simple and most distal fistulae,conventional surgical options such as laying open of the fistula tract seem to be relatively safe and therefore,well accepted in clinical practise.However,for the more complex fistulae where a significant proportion of the anal sphincter is involved,great concern remains about damaging the sphincter and subsequent poor functional outcome,which is quite inevitable following conventional surgical treatment.For this reason,over the last twodecades,many sphincter-preserving procedures for the treatment of anal fistula have been introduced with the common goal of minimising the injury to the anal sphincters and preserving optimal function.Among them,the ligation of intersphincteric fistula tract procedure appears to be safe and effective and may be routinely considered for complex anal fistula.Another technique,the anal fistula plug,derived from porcine small intestinal submucosa,is safe but modestly effective in long-term follow-up,with success rates varying from 24%-88%.The failure rate may be due to its extrusion from the fistula tract.To obviate that,a new designed plug(GORE BioA ) was introduced,but long term data regarding its efficacy are scant.Fibrin glue showed poor and variable healing rate(14%-74%).Fi La C and video-assisted anal fistula treatment procedures,respectively using laser and electrode energy,are expensive and yet to be thoroughly assessed in clinical practise.Recently,a therapy using autologous adiposederived stem cells has been described.Their properties of regenerating tissues and suppressing inflammatory response must be better investigated on anal fistulae,and studies remain in progress.The aim of this present article is to review the pertinent literature,describing the advantages and limitations of new sphincterpreserving techniques.

Inflammation and fibrosis in chronic liver diseases including nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and hepatitis C

At present chronic liver disease(CLD),the third commonest cause of premature death in the United Kingdom is detected late,when interventions are ineffective,resulting in considerable morbidity and mortality.Injury to the liver,the largest solid organ in the body,leads to a cascade of inflammatory events.Chronic inflammation leads to the activation of hepatic stellate cells that undergo transdifferentiation to become myofibroblasts,the main extra-cellular matrix producing cells in the liver;over time increased extra-cellular matrix production results in the formation of liver fibrosis.Although fibrogenesis may be viewed as having evolved as a“wound healing”process that preserves tissue integrity,sustained chronic fibrosis can become pathogenic culminating in CLD,cirrhosis and its associated complications.As the reference standard for detecting liver fibrosis,liver biopsy,is invasive and has an associated morbidity,the diagnostic assessment of CLD by non-invasive testing is attractive.Accordingly,in this review the mechanisms by which liver inflammation and fibrosis develop in chronic liver diseases are explored to identify appropriate and meaningful diagnostic targets for clinical practice.Due to differing disease prevalence and treatment efficacy,disease specific diagnostic targets are required to optimally manage individual CLDs such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and chronic hepatitis C infection.To facilitate this,a review of the pathogenesis of both conditions is also conducted.Finally,the evidence for hepatic fibrosis regression and the mechanisms by which this occurs are discussed,including the current use of antifibrotic therapy.

Treatment of refractory diabetic macular edema with a fluocinolone acetonide implant in vitrectomized and non-vitrectomized eyes

AIM: To report real-life data on the use of an intravitreal fluocinolone acetonide implant in the treatment of refractory diabetic macular edema(DME) in pars plana vitrectomized(PPV) and non-PPV eyes.METHODS: This was a comparative retrospective observational study of 23 eyes with chronic DME. Bestcorrected visual acuity(BCVA) and central macular thickness(CMT) were recorded at baseline, 1, 4 and 12 mo. Descriptive statistics and non-parametric tests were performed to analyze and compare PPV and non-PPV eyes. RESULTS: Seven PPV and 16 non-PPV eyes were included in the study. Median BCVA in the non-PPV group varied from 0.65 logMAR [Interquartile range(IQR): 0.40] at baseline to 0.42 logMAR(IQR: 0.40) at 12 mo. Median CMT varied from 430 μm(IQR: 131.3) at baseline to 317 μm(IQR: 107.5) at 12 mo. Median BCVA in the PPV group varied from 0.60 logMAR(IQR: 0.62) at baseline to 0.74 logMAR(IQR: 0.34) at 12 mo. Median CMT varied from 483 μm(IQR: 146) at baseline to 397 μm(IQR: 132) at 12 mo. Of 0/7 eyes and 1/16 eyes in the PPV and non-PPV eyes respectively had a baseline visual acuity of 6/12 or better(0.3 logMAR). At last follow up, 1/7 and 5/16 eyes in the PPV and non-PPV group respectively achieved a visual acuity of 6/12 or better.CONCLUSION: Visual outcomes are modest following the use of the fluocinolone acetonide implant for chronic DME. The steroid implant is a useful treatment option in the management of refractory DME in vitrectomized and non-vitrectmized eyes.

Double gallstone ileus

BACKGROUND:Gallstone ileus remains a rare but important cause of intestinal obstruction. METHOD:We present a unique case of two gallstones causing intestinal obstruction at the same time. RESULTS:A 90-year-old lady presented with signs and symptoms of small bowel obstruction.At operation,two gallstones stuck at different points within the bowel were causing the obstruction and were removed. CONCLUSION:When operating on patients with small bowel obstruction from gallstone ileus,examination of the entire small bowel should be considered mandatory.