Topical Diltiazem Versus Topical Glyceryl Trinitrate In The Management Of Chronic Anal Fissure

Background: Chemical sphincterotomy is a novel way for treating patients of chronic anal fissure which avoids the risk of fecal incontinence associated with traditional surgical methods. Aims and objectives: The aim of this study was to compare the results of topical Diltiazem with topical Glyceril trinitrate in the management of chronic anal fissure. Methods: 71 patients in the age group of 15 - 61 years with chronic anal fissure were included in this prospective, randomized, double-blind trial over a period of two years with further follow up for one year. The patients were randomly allocated to either Diltiazem gel 2% (37 patients) or Glyceril trinitrate ointment 0.2% (34 patients) and were asked to use the treatment twice daily for 8 weeks. Each patient was reviewed every two weeks. Symptoms, healing, side effects and recurrence were compared using SPSS version 10 employing X2 test. A p-value below 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Patients who received topical diltiazem (DTZ) showed statistically significant difference than those who were prescribed topical glyceril trinitrate in terms of symptoms, wound healing, side effects ( headaches) and recurrence (p=0.03 and 0.003 respectively). Healing occurred in 34 of 37 (92%) patients treated with Diltiazem after 6 weeks and 27 of 34 (80%) patients treated with Glyceril trinitrate after 8 weeks, which shows a significant difference in favour of Diltiazem (P < 0.001). The rest of the patients did not heal and underwent sphincterotomy (SILS). Headache occurred in all of the patients treated with Glyceril trinitrate but none of the patients treated with Diltiazem. Conclusion: Diltiazem gel was found to be better than Glyceril trinitrate ointment due to significantly higher healing rate and fewer side-effects. JMS 2014;17(2):55-58