A Video-Assisted Anal Fistula Treatment (VAAFT): A New Minimally Invasive Treatment Option for Fistula in Ano

Objective: To determine the outcome of video-assisted anal fistula treatment (VAAFT): A new minimally invasive treatment option for fistula in ano. Study Design: This is an observational study. Setting: Study carried out at General Surgery department, Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences Jamshoro, form January 2020 to June 2020. Material & Method: Inclusion criteria for this study were patients aged 18-60 years visiting the outpatient department with primary/recurrent fistula having symptoms. Among these individuals having anal fistula due to secondary causes like IBD, tuberculosis or any malignancy were not included in the study. VAAFT was performed by experience general surgeon and post-operative follow up was done till 1 years. Results: A total of 68 patients with fistula in ano were selected for video assisted anal fistula treatment (VAAFT) in our setup. It included 67.6% (n=46) males and 32.3% (n=22) females who agreed for the procedure. The mean age of patients were found to be 43+13 years. Post-operatively complete healing was observed in 75% (n=51) patients and 14.7% patients had persistent fistula after the procedure.  Conclusion: VAAFT is a minimally invasive surgical intervention implied to treat primary and recurrent anal fistulas, having lesser rates of recurrence and few post-operative complications. It should be implied over large scales for treatment of primary and recurrent anal fistula as it  carries the lowest rate of anal incontinence.