ANOCUTANEOUS FLAPS AS AN ALTERNATIVE METH OD OF TREATMENT TO ENDORECTAL CLOSURE TECHNIQUES IN THE TREATMENT OF ANAL FISTULAS - A PROSPECTIVE-STUDY IN 31 PATIENTS

From January 1992 until April 1995, 31 patients with trans- and supras phincteric anal fistulae (transsphincteric n = 21; suprasphincteric n = 4; transsphincteric in Crohn's disease n = 6) underwent a fistulecto my followed by closure of the internal opening by suture and anocutane ous flap. All patients had undergone previous operations, some several times. The recurrence rate of 13 % appeared to be low after a short f ollow-up. Continence was only negligibly impaired, although the anal r esting pressure and contraction pressure were significantly reduced. I n five patients a shortened prewarning period was noticed. Also in Cro hn's fistulae the results were equivalent when the surgical treatment was performed in a non-inflammatory period.