aim. Two-dimensional transrectal ultrasonography can nowadays be safely used for preoperatively evaluation of perianal fistulas. The aim of this study is to demonstrate its efficacy by comparing the results of this imaging technique with the surgical findings, as well as recurrence rates.
Patients and methods. A 4-year retrospective study with a mean follow-up of 4.7 years was performed, including patients treated surgically for a perianal fistula at the surgical department of a tertiary secondary hospital. All these patients underwent preoperatively a transrectal ultrasound with H2O2 for surgery planning, while 12 of them had also a MRI-scan.
Results. The sample was consisted of 53 patients with a mean age of 32.4 years and a 0.3 female/male ratio. During the mean 4.7 years follow up 2 patients (3,8%) had a recurrence, while in none of these cases an anal-sphincter muscle trauma was noted. The operative findings were in all cases consisted with the transrectal ultrasonography
results. The MRI-scan failed to demonstrate the presence of a fistula in 3 out of the 12 patients (25%).
Conclusions. Our data support that the use of ultrasound with H2O2 preoperatively, for a safe surgery planning, leads to an accurate surgical procedure and fewer recurrence rates.
