Background: The intersphincteric fistulous tract ligation treatment has been presented as a new sphincter-saving procedure with high success rates and excellent continence preservation.
Objective: To assess the efficacy and outcomes of intersphincteric fistula tract (LIFT) ligation in the treatment of transsphincteric perianal fistula.
Patients and Methods: At the General Surgery Department (GIT Unit) at Zagazig University Hospitals, 18 patients who were treated with the LIFT technique were involved in this cohort clinical study. All patients were followed up for three months to assess recovery, complications, discomfort, incontinence, and recurrence after surgery.
Results: all cases had restored a good function through the three months according to the Wexner score post-operative. There was a statistically significant association between age, DM, Quality of life, time of operation, healing time, and recurrence where recurrence was associated with the highest mean age of cases, diabetic patients, the longest stay in the hospital, and the longest healing time. Also, the quality of life of all recurrent cases was not good.
Conclusion: Long-term control of uncomplicated trans-sphincteric perianal fistula can be achieved with little complications using the sphincter-preserving approach of LIFT. It is a safe procedure for patients with simple trans-sphincteric perianal fistula with good healing rates at short-term follow-up.