SynthesisSurgical endoscopy2018
A Systematic review and meta-analysis of the efficacy and safety of video-assisted anal fistula treatment (VAAFT).
Synthesis in Surgical endoscopy, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 52 papers, 7 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
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
52 citing papers in PubMed, 7 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 146 citations in OpenAlex.
- Systematic review and network meta-analysis of cryptoglandular complex anal fistula treatment: evaluation of surgical strategies.Updates in surgery · 2025Pooled 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
- Systematic review and meta-analysis of the efficacy and safety of stem cell treatment of anal fistulas.Techniques in coloproctology · 2025Pooled it
- Pooled it
- A systematic review and meta-analysis of the safety and efficacy of fistula laser closure.Techniques in coloproctology · 2020Pooled it
- Evaluation and management of perianal abscess and anal fistula: SICCR position statement.Techniques in coloproctology · 2020Guideline
- Endoscopic pilonidal sinus treatment: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Surgical endoscopy · 2018Pooled it
- The novel BioHealx®assisted fistula treatment (BAFT): effective primary fistula healing with continence preservation.International journal of colorectal disease · 2025Trial
- Cutting seton versus decompression and drainage seton in the treatment of high complex anal fistula: a randomized controlled trial.Scientific reports · 2022Trial
- A pilot randomized controlled trial on ligation of intersphincteric fistula tract (LIFT) versus modified parks technique and two-stage seton in treatment of complex anal fistula.Updates in surgery · 2022Trial
- Molecular differences of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells between non-responders and responders in treatment of transphincteric perianal fistulas.Stem cell research & therapy · 2021Trial
- Fistulotomy with or without marsupialisation of wound edges in treatment of simple anal fistula: a randomised controlled trial.Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England · 2019Trial
- Does the location of the internal opening matter? A long-term retrospective study of the efficacy of FiLaCBMC surgery · 2026Article
- Evidence outside the box: Minimally invasive treatment for anal fistula.World journal of gastrointestinal surgery · 2025Review
- Article
- Understanding the anatomical basis of anorectal fistulas and their surgical management: exploring different types for enhanced precision and safety.Surgery today · 2025Review
- A technical note of flex video-assisted anal fistula treatment procedure: Utilizing modified flexible fistuloscope in video-assisted approach for anal fistula laser treatment.Surgery open science · 2025Article
- Preclinical testing of a new radiofrequency ablation device in a porcine perianal fistula model.Annals of coloproctology · 2025Article
- Efficacy and safety of transanal opening of intersphincteric space in the treatment of high complex anal fistula: A meta‑analysis.Experimental and therapeutic medicine · 2024Article
- Assessing the suitability of video-assisted anal fistula treatment for obese patients compared to conventional surgery: a question worth investigating.International journal of colorectal disease · 2024Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
4 authors at 3 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundVideo-assisted anal fistula treatment (VAAFT) is a novel, minimally invasive technique for the treatment of fistula-in-ano (FIA). This review aimed to search the literature for the outcome of VAAFT regarding the recurrence and complication rates of the technique.
methodsA systematic literature search was conducted in compliance with the PRISMA screening guidelines. PubMed/MEDLINE and Scopus were searched for articles reporting the outcomes of VAAFT procedure from inception through April 2017. The main outcomes were patients' characteristics, technical aspects, operation time, recurrence, and complication rates.
resultsEleven studies (n = 788 patients) were included. The mean age of the patients was 39.5 years. 66.5% of patients had high or complex FIA and 18.4% underwent previous fistula surgery. The internal opening of the fistula was detected in 85.7% of patients. The mean operation time was 42 ± 14.2 min. The weighed mean rate of detection of internal opening was 93.3%. Recurrence occurred in 112 (14.2%) patients after a median follow-up of 9 months. Recurrence rates varied according to method of closure of internal opening from 15.3% after using staplers, 17.7% after suturing, to 25% after advancement flap. The weighted mean recurrence rate across the studies was 17.7%. The weighted mean complication rate was 4.8%.
conclusionVAAFT may be considered an effective diagnostic tool and a safe method for the treatment of complex and high FIA attaining satisfactory outcome and acceptably low complications. Recurrence after VAAFT may be related to previous fistula surgery and the method of closure of the internal opening.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.