AUTHOR=Besendörfer Manuel , Langer Laurin , Carbon Roman , Weiss Christel , Müller Hanna , Diez Sonja TITLE=Treatment of pediatric fistula-in-ano—Sphincter-sparing non-cutting seton placement as the future treatment of choice? JOURNAL=Frontiers in Surgery VOLUME=10 YEAR=2023 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/surgery/articles/10.3389/fsurg.2023.1144425 DOI=10.3389/fsurg.2023.1144425 ISSN=2296-875X ABSTRACT=Background

Therapeutic principles of fistula-in-ano (FIA) are lacking evidence-based consensus on treatment options. Non-cutting, sphincter-sparing options have not been published for infancy and childhood FIA.

Patients and methods

We are presenting retrospective data on FIA treatment with non-cutting seton placement between 2011 and 2020. Data were collected based on medical records and complemented by patients’ contact for follow-up analyses between November 2021 and October 2022. Data were analyzed regarding the outcome variables of recurrent FIA and recurrent perianal abscess. Furthermore, outcomes in different age groups were compared (<1/1.5–12 years of age).

Results

Treatment duration with non-cutting seton was at a median of 4.6 months and was not associated with recurrent FIA (p = 0.8893). Overall recurrence rate of FIA within an observation time of 9 months postsurgically was at 7% (n = 3/42) and was only seen in infancy, whereas recurrent perianal abscess was mainly observable in children (n = 2, p = 0.2132). Comparison of age groups revealed no significant differences. Of the 42 included patients, 37 responded in the follow-up analysis, resulting in a response rate of 88% with a median follow-up time of 4.9 years. Fecal incontinence was postsurgically only seen in two patients, who were diagnosed prior to surgery and symptoms remained unchanged.

Conclusions

Non-cutting seton placement might be a promising option in the treatment of FIA in infancy and childhood. Perioperative settings like duration of placed seton and antibiotic treatment have to be discussed in further prospective, enlarged population-based studies.