Modern management of anal fistula

Table 1 Published articles on ligation of the intersphincteric fistula tract

Ref.	No. Patients	Follow-up (wk)	Healing rate	Complications	Type of study
Rojanasakul et al[23]	18	4	94%	NR	Prospective observational
Shanwani et al[26]	45	7	82%	NR	Prospective observational
Ellis et al[27]	31	6	94%	NR	Retrospective
Bleier et al[28]	39	10	57%	1 Anal fissure;	Retrospective
				1 Persistent pain
Ooi et al[29]	25	6	96%	NR	Prospective observational
Tan et al[30]	93	4	92%	NR	Retrospective review
Steiner et al[31]	18	6	83%	1 hemorrhoidal thrombosis	Retrospective
Aboulian et al[32]	25	24	68%	2 Vaginal fungal infection	Retrospective review
Mushaya et al[33]	25	4	68%	1 Secondary bleeding;	Prospective randomized
				2 Superficial perineal wound dehiscence
Abcarian et al[34]	50	15	74%	NR	Retrospective
Lo et al[35]	25	2	98%	NR	Retrospective
van Onkelen et al[36]	42	12	51%	NR	Prospective
Chen et al[37]	10	6	100%	NR	Retrospective
Lehmann et al[38]	17	4	47%	1 perianal haematoma;	Prospective
				1 wound infection
Liu et al[39]	38	26	61%	NR	Retrospective