ArticleTechniques in coloproctology2020
Video-Assisted Anal Fistula Treatment (VAAFT) for complex anorectal fistula: efficacy and risk factors for failure at 3-year follow-up.
Article in Techniques in coloproctology, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 16 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
16 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 28 citations in OpenAlex.
- 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
- Long-term outcomes of video-assisted anal fistula treatment.Surgical endoscopy · 2026Observational
- Clinical efficacy and failure-related factors of the loose-seton procedure combined with transanal opening of the intersphincteric space technique (LoSet-TROPlS) in the treatment of complex anal fistulas.Techniques in coloproctology · 2026Article
- 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
- Surgery of Simple and Complex Anal Fistulae in Adults: A Review of the Literature for Optimal Surgical Outcomes.Cureus · 2023Review
- The Value of Transrectal Ultrasound in the Preoperative Diagnosis of Complex Anal Fistula (CAF): Based on a Retrospective Cohort Study.Computational and mathematical methods in medicine · 2022Article
- Sphincter-Preserving Fistulectomy Is an Effective Minimally Invasive Technique for Complex Anal Fistulas.Frontiers in surgery · 2022Article
- VAAFT for complex anal fistula: a useful tool, however, cure is unlikely.Techniques in coloproctology · 2021Article
- Porcine dermal collagen mesh (Permacol™) as a bioprosthesis in the ligation of intersphincteric tract (BioLIFT) procedure.Techniques in coloproctology · 2020Article
- Assessing validity of existing fistula-in-ano classifications in a cohort of 848 operated and MRI-assessed anal fistula patients - Cohort study.Annals of medicine and surgery (2012) · 2020Article
- Efficacy of video-assisted anal fistula treatment combined with closure of the internal opening using a stapler for Parks II anal fistula.Annals of translational medicine · 2020Article
- Management of Complex Cryptoglandular Anal Fistula: Challenges and Solutions.Clinical and experimental gastroenterology · 2020Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
7 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundThe aim of this study was to assess the 3-year objective and subjective outcomes of patients with complex anorectal fistula treated with Video-Assisted Anal Fistula Treatment (VAAFT). Furthermore, we evaluated the risk factors associated with recurrence.
methodsAll consecutive patients with complex anorectal fistula who underwent VAAFT in Beata Vergine Hospital of Mendrisio, Switzerland, from January 2013 to January 2016, were enrolled. Patients with suspicion or diagnosis of Crohn's disease, malignancy, previous history of radiotherapy or radical pelvic surgery were excluded. Preoperative clinical assessment based upon medical history, physical examination and endosonography, was performed in all patients. Data regarding subjective outcomes (the Patient Global Impression of Improvement, patient satisfaction scores and Wexner score), objective cure rate (absence of fistula at clinical examination), and adverse events were collected during follow-up. Uni and multivariate analysis were performed to investigate outcomes.
resultsOne hundred and four patients had VAAFT. At 3-year follow-up, 96 patients (92.3%) were available for the evaluation. At 3 years after surgery, 81 of 96 patients (84.4%) declared themselves cured (p = 0.60). Similarly, at 3-year evaluation, 80 of 96 patients (83.3%) were objectively cured (p = 0.52). No serious intraoperative or postoperative complications were reported. All recurrences were treated with a repeat VAAFT procedure resulting in a complete healing. Uni and multivariate analysis of variables potentially involved in the failure of VAAFT showed that age ≥ 50 years was the only factor associated at risk of recurrence.
conclusionsVAAFT is a highly effective safe procedure for the treatment of anorectal fistula, with a low recurrence rate at 3-year follow-up. However, our study demonstrated that age ≥ 50 years is a risk factor for failure of VAAFT.
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