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Session: ePoster: Benign Anorectal 8 (Sat315)

EP112 - Rectal Ultrasound Should Be Performed Prior to Anal Fistula Surgery.

Saturday, May 10, 2025
3:36 PM – 3:41 PM PT
Location: Monitor 2, Sails Pavilion, Upper Level

    ePoster Presenter(s)

  • Esmond Gee, md

    attending
    University of California, Riverside
    redlands, CA, United States

    All of the relevant financial relationships listed below have been mitigated.
    This individual has no financial relationships with ineligible companies.

    • Author(s)

  • Taylor E. Messick-Ngo, MD

    Surgery Resident
    Riverside Community Hospital
    Yorba Linda, CA, United States

    All of the relevant financial relationships listed below have been mitigated.
    This individual has no financial relationships with ineligible companies.

  • sK

    seung Hyun Kang, DNP

    researcher
    Inland Empire Colon and Rectal Surgeons
    Redlands, California, United States

    Disclosure information not submitted.

All of the relevant financial relationships listed below have been mitigated.
Esmond Gee, md: This individual has no financial relationships with ineligible companies.
Taylor E. Messick-Ngo, MD: This individual has no financial relationships with ineligible companies.
Image or Table (Do Not add text here):

Purpose/Background: Surgical treatment of an anal fistula involves locating the internal opening, determining the path of the fistula, finding secondary arms and deeper cavities. Knowledge of the existing musculature in relation to the fistula tract determines the operative approach. The structures are well delineated in a rectal ultrasound. The ultrasound is inexpensive, noninvasive and provides important information in treating anal fistulas. The study determines if knowledge of the anatomy through ultrasonography improves the closure of the anal fistula or decrease the surgical complications.

Methods/Interventions: Seventy-two sequential fistula patients were surgically treated with or without a preoperative rectal ultrasound. Fistula closure, recurrence rate and complications including fecal incontinence were compared between the groups.

Results/Outcomes: There were no differences between the demographics of the two groups. Fistulotomy was performed in the majority of the cases. The two groups had no significant difference in fistula closure, recurrence, fecal incontinence and overall complications. Of the patients evaluated with preoperative ultrasound, 52% were found to have anatomic variations that made the rectal ultrasound helpful in the surgical management.

Conclusion/Discussion: Preoperative rectal ultrasounds do not improve fistula closure or complication rates. The rectal ultrasound aids in identifying important factors in treating anal fistulas. When available, rectal ultrasounds are recommended for evaluation of an anal fistula