Biomaterials in the treatment of anal fistula: hope or hype?

Daniele Scoglio, Avery S Walker, Alessandro Fichera
Author Information
  1. Daniele Scoglio: Department of Surgery, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, Washington.
  2. Avery S Walker: Department of Surgery, Madigan Army Medical Center, Fort Lewis, Washington.
  3. Alessandro Fichera: Department of Surgery, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, Washington.

Abstract

Anal fistula (AF) presents a chronic problem for patients and colorectal surgeons alike. Surgical treatment may result in impairment of continence and long-term risk of recurrence. Treatment options for AFs vary according to their location and complexity. The ideal approach should result in low recurrence rates and minimal impact on continence. New technical approaches involving biologically derived products such as biological mesh, fibrin glue, fistula plug, and stem cells have been applied in the treatment of AF to improve outcomes and decrease recurrence rates and the risk of fecal incontinence. In this review, we will highlight the current evidence and describe our personal experience with these novel approaches.

Keywords

References

  1. Dis Colon Rectum. 1965 Sep-Oct;8(5):364-8 [PMID: 5830659]
  2. Dis Colon Rectum. 2005 Dec;48(12):2167-72 [PMID: 16258708]
  3. Br J Surg. 1976 Jan;63(1):1-12 [PMID: 1267867]
  4. Dig Surg. 2000;17(1):77-80 [PMID: 10720836]
  5. J Gastrointest Surg. 1997 Sep-Oct;1(5):487-91 [PMID: 17061335]
  6. Dis Colon Rectum. 2011 Nov;54(11):1368-72 [PMID: 21979180]
  7. Surg Today. 2006;36(2):166-70 [PMID: 16440165]
  8. ANZ J Surg. 2014 Apr;84(4):280-3 [PMID: 23796189]
  9. Dis Colon Rectum. 1999 May;42(5):607-13 [PMID: 10344682]
  10. Hepatogastroenterology. 2007 Jun;54(76):1071-3 [PMID: 17629041]
  11. Dis Colon Rectum. 2011 Nov;54(11):1412-8 [PMID: 21979187]
  12. Br Med J. 1961 Feb 18;1(5224):463-9 [PMID: 13732880]
  13. J Visc Surg. 2010 Aug;147(4):e203-15 [PMID: 20822966]
  14. Am J Surg. 2008 Jul;196(1):95-9 [PMID: 18466873]
  15. Colorectal Dis. 2004 Sep;6(5):308-19 [PMID: 15335361]
  16. Dis Colon Rectum. 2006 Nov;49(11):1736-40 [PMID: 17053867]
  17. Gut. 2011 Jun;60(6):788-98 [PMID: 21257987]
  18. Colorectal Dis. 2008 Jan;10(1):17-20 [PMID: 18028469]
  19. Dis Colon Rectum. 2012 Jul;55(7):778-82 [PMID: 22706130]
  20. Dis Colon Rectum. 2009 Apr;52(4):602-8 [PMID: 19404061]
  21. Dis Colon Rectum. 2011 Nov;54(11):1419-22 [PMID: 21979188]
  22. J Gastrointest Surg. 2006 May;10(5):631-2 [PMID: 16773756]
  23. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2002 Jan;109(1):199-209; discussion 210-1 [PMID: 11786812]
  24. Dis Colon Rectum. 2010 Jan;53(1):43-6 [PMID: 20010349]
  25. Dis Colon Rectum. 2008 Jun;51(6):838-43 [PMID: 18330649]
  26. Tech Coloproctol. 2008 Sep;12(3):225-8 [PMID: 18679572]
  27. Gastroenterology. 2010 Jun;138(7):2216-9 [PMID: 20434504]
  28. Colorectal Dis. 2010 May;12(5):459-63 [PMID: 19210300]
  29. Dis Colon Rectum. 2008 Oct;51(10):1488-90 [PMID: 18612689]
  30. Arch Surg. 2000 Feb;135(2):166-9 [PMID: 10668875]
  31. Dis Colon Rectum. 2002 Dec;45(12):1608-15 [PMID: 12473883]
  32. Dis Colon Rectum. 2000 Jul;43(7):944-9; discussion 949-50 [PMID: 10910240]
  33. Dis Colon Rectum. 2003 Sep;46(9):1167-74 [PMID: 12972959]
  34. World J Gastroenterol. 2010 Jul 14;16(26):3279-86 [PMID: 20614483]
  35. Colorectal Dis. 2010 May;12(5):442-7 [PMID: 19220379]
  36. Dis Colon Rectum. 2006 Oct;49(10):1569-73 [PMID: 16998638]
  37. J Gastrointest Surg. 2004 Jan;8(1):109-12 [PMID: 14746842]
  38. Colorectal Dis. 2013 May;15(5):582-6 [PMID: 23067044]
  39. Dis Colon Rectum. 2013 Jun;56(6):774-9 [PMID: 23652753]
  40. Dis Colon Rectum. 2010 Jan;53(1):39-42 [PMID: 20010348]
  41. Dis Colon Rectum. 1999 Sep;42(9):1136-9 [PMID: 10496552]
  42. Dis Colon Rectum. 2006 Sep;49(9):1463-4; author reply 1464-5 [PMID: 16900457]
  43. Int J Colorectal Dis. 2012 May;27(5):595-600 [PMID: 22065114]
  44. Dis Colon Rectum. 1991 Sep;34(9):752-4 [PMID: 1914738]
  45. Dis Colon Rectum. 2005 Jul;48(7):1337-42 [PMID: 15933794]
  46. Dis Colon Rectum. 2004 Apr;47(4):432-6 [PMID: 14978618]
  47. Int J Colorectal Dis. 2013 Nov;28(11):1489-96 [PMID: 23636215]
  48. J Gastrointest Surg. 2001 Mar-Apr;5(2):158-61 [PMID: 11331478]
  49. Surg Clin North Am. 2010 Feb;90(1):45-68, Table of Contents [PMID: 20109632]
  50. World J Gastroenterol. 2011 Jul 28;17(28):3277-85 [PMID: 21876614]
  51. Dis Colon Rectum. 2011 Apr;54(4):387-93 [PMID: 21383557]
  52. Dis Colon Rectum. 2005 Apr;48(4):799-808 [PMID: 15785883]
  53. Tech Coloproctol. 2005 Jul;9(2):89-94 [PMID: 16007368]
  54. Tech Coloproctol. 2001 Dec;5(3):137-41 [PMID: 11875680]
  55. Dis Colon Rectum. 2008 Oct;51(10):1482-7 [PMID: 18521674]
  56. Int J Colorectal Dis. 2007 Dec;22(12):1459-62 [PMID: 17554546]
  57. Dis Colon Rectum. 2009 Feb;52(2):248-52 [PMID: 19279419]
  58. Am Surg. 2008 Oct;74(10):921-4 [PMID: 18942614]
  59. Int J Colorectal Dis. 2008 Jul;23(7):697-701 [PMID: 18322659]
  60. Int J Colorectal Dis. 2007 Mar;22(3):259-64 [PMID: 16896993]
  61. J Clin Diagn Res. 2013 May;7(5):876-9 [PMID: 23814732]
  62. Dis Colon Rectum. 2002 Dec;45(12):1622-8 [PMID: 12473885]
  63. Br J Surg. 1977 Feb;64(2):84-91 [PMID: 890252]
  64. Surgery. 2010 Jan;147(1):72-8 [PMID: 19733880]
  65. Ann Surg. 1912 Nov;56(5):744-52 [PMID: 17862924]
  66. Dis Colon Rectum. 2011 Mar;54(3):289-92 [PMID: 21304298]
  67. Dis Colon Rectum. 2006 Dec;49(12):1817-21 [PMID: 17082891]
  68. Dis Colon Rectum. 2013 Mar;56(3):343-7 [PMID: 23392149]
  69. Dis Colon Rectum. 2008 Jul;51(7):1155; author reply 1156 [PMID: 18470559]
  70. Dis Colon Rectum. 2002 Dec;45(12):1616-21 [PMID: 12473884]
  71. Dis Colon Rectum. 2008 Oct;51(10):1475-81 [PMID: 18626715]
  72. Dis Colon Rectum. 2007 Feb;50(2):218-22 [PMID: 17164962]
  73. Ger Med Sci. 2012;10:Doc13 [PMID: 22984363]
  74. Dis Colon Rectum. 2007 Oct;50(10):1535-9 [PMID: 17674105]
  75. Surg Gynecol Obstet. 1989 Dec;169(6):551-2 [PMID: 2683156]
  76. Colorectal Dis. 2012 May;14(5):599-603 [PMID: 21831102]
  77. Colorectal Dis. 2005 Sep;7(5):513-8 [PMID: 16108891]
  78. Dis Colon Rectum. 2008 Jul;51(7):1084-8 [PMID: 18478298]
  79. Dis Colon Rectum. 2009 Feb;52(2):217-21 [PMID: 19279415]
  80. Tech Coloproctol. 2013 Jun;17(3):259-73 [PMID: 23207714]
  81. Dis Colon Rectum. 2003 Apr;46(4):498-502 [PMID: 12682544]
  82. Dis Colon Rectum. 2009 Jan;52(1):79-86 [PMID: 19273960]
  83. J Surg Educ. 2007 Jan-Feb;64(1):36-40 [PMID: 17320804]
  84. Br J Surg. 2009 Jun;96(6):608-12 [PMID: 19402190]
  85. Colorectal Dis. 2012 May;14 (5):e264-9 [PMID: 22288601]
  86. Dis Colon Rectum. 2006 Mar;49(3):371-6 [PMID: 16421664]
  87. Dig Surg. 2005;22(1-2):91-4 [PMID: 15849469]
  88. J Med Assoc Thai. 2007 Mar;90(3):581-6 [PMID: 17427539]
  89. Dis Colon Rectum. 2003 May;46(5):584-9 [PMID: 12792432]
  90. Colorectal Dis. 2010 Oct;12(10):965-70 [PMID: 19438881]
  91. Am Surg. 2010 Oct;76(10):1150-3 [PMID: 21105632]

Word Cloud

Created with Highcharts 10.0.0fistulatreatmentrecurrenceAFresultcontinenceriskratesapproachesmeshfibringlueplugstemcellsAnalpresentschronicproblempatientscolorectalsurgeonsalikeSurgicalmayimpairmentlong-termTreatmentoptionsAFsvaryaccordinglocationcomplexityidealapproachlowminimalimpactNewtechnicalinvolvingbiologicallyderivedproductsbiologicalappliedimproveoutcomesdecreasefecalincontinencereviewwillhighlightcurrentevidencedescribepersonalexperiencenovelBiomaterialsanalfistula:hopehype?analbio-LIFTbiologic

Similar Articles

Cited By