ENDOSCOPIC ANAL DILATATION FOR FISSURE-IN-ANO - A NEW OUTPATIENT TREATMENT MODALITY

We describe a new therapeutic procedure for fissure-in-ano, endoscopic anal dilatation. Anal dilatation is performed with a two-valved anosc ope under local anesthesia in an ambulatory setting. We report our res ults using this technique in 62 patients after a mean follow-up of 19 months (range: 12-24 months). Thirty days after the procedure, 55 pati ents (93%) were sympton-free, whereas 3 of them (4.8%) failed to impro ve, After nineteen months, one patient out of 47 in follow-up had a re currence. No bleeding, discharge or defects of continence, either tran sient or permanent, were noted. The results of endoscopic anal dilatat ion are comparable with those of lateral sphincterotomy, can be achiev ed at a lower complication rate, with only minor and temporary complic ations, and performed by physicians with no specific surgical training .