ArticleTechniques in coloproctology2026
Endoanal ultrasound-measured internal anal sphincter changes after nonablative 1470-nm diode laser therapy for anal incontinence: a prospective single-arm pilot study.
Article in Techniques in coloproctology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
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.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundFecal incontinence (FI) is a debilitating condition that may be associated with structural abnormalities of the anal sphincter complex. Nonablative anal laser therapy has been proposed as a minimally invasive treatment option; however, its anatomical correlates remain insufficiently defined.
objectivesThe objectives of this study were to evaluate endoanal ultrasound (EAUS)-detected changes in internal anal sphincter (IAS) morphology after nonablative 1470-nm diode laser therapy and to explore their association with clinical outcomes.
methodsIn this prospective single-arm pilot study, 30 patients with mild-to-moderate FI and IAS defects or atrophy underwent up to six sessions of nonablative 1470-nm diode laser therapy. EAUS was performed before and after treatment to assess IAS thickness, IAS length, and defect length. Clinical response was assessed using the Wexner score, and anorectal manometry and Fecal Incontinence Quality of Life (FIQL) scores were evaluated.
resultsA total of 24 patients completed treatment and post-treatment reassessment. EAUS demonstrated small but statistically significant increases in IAS thickness and length, with a concomitant reduction in IAS defect length (p < 0.05). Symptomatic improvement was observed in 17/24 completing patients (70.8%) and was more frequent among patients with isolated IAS defects than among those with combined IAS and external anal sphincter defects. Greater reduction in IAS defect length was associated with clinical improvement (p = 0.015). Adverse events were generally transient; however, six patients discontinued treatment, including four owing to pain or burning sensation.
conclusionsIn this uncontrolled pilot study, nonablative 1470-nm diode laser therapy was associated with EAUS-detected IAS changes and symptomatic improvement in selected patients with FI. Because of the absence of a control group, small absolute sonographic changes, and limited follow-up, these findings should be interpreted as preliminary and require confirmation in controlled studies with standardized imaging and functional assessment.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
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.