ArticleGastroenterology research and practice2017
Video-Assisted Anal Fistula Treatment: Pros and Cons of This Minimally Invasive Method for Treatment of Perianal Fistulas.
Article in Gastroenterology research and practice, 2017. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 10 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
10 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Failure rates and complications of four sphincter-sparing techniques for the treatment of fistula-in-ano: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.Techniques in coloproctology · 2025Pooled it
- Pooled it
- Video-assisted anal fistula treatment for complex anorectal fistulas in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Techniques in coloproctology · 2022Pooled it
- Trial
- Case report of combined application of three sphincter-preserving approaches in complex perianal fistula.Journal of surgical case reports · 2026Article
- Evidence outside the box: Minimally invasive treatment for anal fistula.World journal of gastrointestinal surgery · 2025Review
- VAAFT for complex anal fistula: a useful tool, however, cure is unlikely.Techniques in coloproctology · 2021Article
- Lift and VAAFT for high trans-sphincteric anal fistula: a single center retrospective analysis.International journal of colorectal disease · 2020Article
- Fistulotomy and primary sphincteroplasty for anal fistula: long-term data on continence and patient satisfaction.Techniques in coloproctology · 2019Article
- Are two better than one? VALIFT: video-assisted ligation of the intersphincteric fistula tract-a combination of two minimally invasive techniques for treatment of transsphincteric perianal fistulas.Techniques in coloproctology · 2019Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
2 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
purposeThe purpose of this paper is to present results of a single-center, nonrandomized, prospective study of the video-assisted anal fistula treatment (VAAFT).
methods68 consecutive patients with perianal fistulas were operated on using the VAAFT technique. 30 of the patients had simple fistulas, and 38 had complex fistulas. The mean follow-up time was 31 months.
resultsThe overall healing rate was 54.41% (37 of the 68 patients healed with no recurrence during the follow-up period). The results varied depending on the type of fistula. The success rate for the group with simple fistulas was 73.3%, whereas it was only 39.47% for the group with complex fistulas. Female patients achieved higher healing rates for both simple (81.82% versus 68.42%) and complex fistulas (77.78% versus 27.59%). There were no major complications.
conclusionsThe results of VAAFT vary greatly depending on the type of fistula. The procedure has some drawbacks due to the rigid construction of the fistuloscope and the diameter of the shaft. The electrocautery of the fistula tract from the inside can be insufficient to close wide tracts. However, low risk of complications permits repetition of the treatment until success is achieved. Careful selection of patients is advised.
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Registered trials
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