Laser ablation of anal fistulae: a 6-year experience in a tertiary teaching hospital in Malaysia.

BACKGROUND

Several studies have investigated the role of laser ablation of anal fistulae in the European setting. However, long-term follow-up results following laser fistula ablations are not widely investigated and no study was performed in the Asia-Pacific, a region with a distinctive prevalence of tuberculosis. The primary objective of this study is to report a single-centre experience with laser ablation of anal fistulae in Malaysia over a period of 6 years.

METHOD: This was a retrospective observational study assessing the outcomes following 70 laser ablations of anal fistulae from February 2014 till December 2019. All cases were assessed using endoanal ultrasound. The laser ablation procedures were performed using laser systems and fibres from Endoteq Medizinische Laser GmBH, Germany, and Biolitec AG, Jena, Germany. Laser fibres were introduced into the fistula tract and laser energy was emitted radially in continuous mode when activated during the procedure. Pre-defined post-procedural outcomes (primary healing, healing failure or recurrence) were recorded as either present or absent during subsequent follow-up appointments and the data was analysed.

RESULTS

Over a median follow-up period of 10 months, primary healing was reported following 42 procedures (60.0%). Healing failure was reported following 28 procedures (40.0%) whilst recurrence was seen after 16 procedures (22.86%). No new cases of incontinence were reported following the procedure.

CONCLUSION

The reported primary healing rate following laser ablation of anal fistulae in this study appears consistent with existing literature published by other international centres. The most apparent clinical advantage of this procedure is sphincter-function preservation. However, the primary healing rate after isolated laser fistula ablation is still suboptimal. Judicious patient selection and application in anal fistulae with suitable characteristics could potentially improve the post-procedural outcomes.