ArticleInternational journal of colorectal disease2021
Fistula Laser Closure (FiLaC™) for fistula-in-ano-yet another technique with 50% healing rates?
Article in International journal of colorectal disease, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 18 papers, 5 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
18 citing papers in PubMed, 5 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 31 citations in OpenAlex.
- Efficacy of FiLaC in different types of anal fistula. A systematic review and meta-analysis.Lasers in medical science · 2026Pooled it
- Fistula Outcomes After Seton Removal in Patients with Perianal Fistulizing Crohn's Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Digestive diseases and sciences · 2026Pooled it
- Effectiveness of Laser-Based Fistula Therapies with and without Adjunctive Measures in Anal Fistulas Management: A Systematic Review and Single-Arm Meta-Analysis.International journal of colorectal disease · 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
- Efficacy and safety of FiLaC™ for perianal fistulizing Crohn's disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Techniques in coloproctology · 2022Pooled it
- Core-Out Fistulectomy Combined With Laser Ablation of the Trans-Sphincteric Fistula Tract: A Pilot Study of Efficacy and Safety.Medical science monitor : international medical journal of experimental and clinical research · 2026Article
- Laser fistula treatment: beyond the controversial aspects: best clinical practice recommendations from an international group of surgeons with extensive experience in the procedure-the FiLaC recommendations.Techniques in coloproctology · 2025Review
- Mucosal advancement flap versus ligation of the inter-sphincteric fistula tract for management of trans-sphincteric perianal fistulas in the elderly: a retrospective study.International journal of colorectal disease · 2025Observational
- Total fistula volume predicts surgical outcomes in complex perianal fistulizing Crohn's disease following fistula-tract laser closure: a single-center retrospective study.Techniques in coloproctology · 2025Article
- Comparison of clinical outcomes between remodified Hanley procedure and modified Hanley procedure for high complex horseshoe fistula: a retrospective study.Techniques in coloproctology · 2024Article
- Long-term outcomes of fistula-tract laser closure for complex perianal fistulizing Crohn's disease.Techniques in coloproctology · 2024Article
- Laser technology in proctological diseases: is it really the wave of the future?Updates in surgery · 2023Review
- Surgical management of perianal fistula using an ovine forestomach matrix implant.Techniques in coloproctology · 2023Observational
- Comprehensive literature review of the applications of surgical laser in benign anal conditions.Lasers in medical science · 2022Review
- Internal Orifice Alloy Closure-A New Procedure to Treat Anal Fistula.Frontiers in surgery · 2022Article
- Emerging Data on Fistula Laser Closure (FiLaC) for the Treatment of Perianal Fistulas; Patient Selection and Outcomes.Clinical and experimental gastroenterology · 2021Review
- Closure of Fistula-in-Ano Using a Radial-Emitting Laser Probe: Initial Experience in Lagos, Nigeria.Journal of the West African College of SurgeonsArticle
- Using MRI to guide surgical strategy for perianal fistulas: from conventional acquisition to 3D modeling.Radiologia brasileiraReview
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 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
purposeTreatment of ano-cutaneous fistulas remains a therapeutic challenge. Fistula Laser Closure (FiLaC™) is a relatively new technique for the treatment of ano-cutaneous fistulas. This study aimed to determine the success rate of fistula closure using FiLaC™. Secondary endpoints included adverse events and patient characteristics associated with treatment success.
methodsThis was a retrospective cohort study of consecutive patients subjected to FiLaC™ at Digestive Disease Center, Bispebjerg University Hospital, Copenhagen, between March 2017 and July 2019. All patients had a one-track fistula not suitable for fistulotomy. All were treated with a draining seton for at least 8 weeks prior to laser closure. Fistulas were ablated with a 360-degree emitting 12-watt 1470 nm laser probe. The inner fistula opening was closed with absorbable suture. All patients were followed with clinical examination including MRI or EAUS 1 year after the procedure.
resultsIn total, 66 patients with 68 fistulas were included. Two patients had a high intersphincteric, 20 had low transsphincteric, 41 high transsphincteric and 5 had suprasphincteric fistulas. Fistula aetiology was cryptoglandular in 83.8%, whereas the rest were due to Crohn's disease. Thirty-one (45.6%) were subjected to a second FiLaC™ procedure. Follow-up was median 19 months (12-26 months). Ultimately, 30 of 68 (44.1%) of the fistulas healed. No cases of incontinence following FiLaC™ were observed, but a single patient developed an abscess.
conclusionFistula closure with FiLaC™ had success rates comparable to that of other sphincter-sparing techniques. The technique seems safe with respect to adverse events and risk of incontinence.
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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.