Conservative Management of Anal Fissures

Abstract

Background: Anal fissures are common, but most are short lived and heal spontaneously. Those which persist and require intervention cause considerable morbidity in an otherwise healthy young population. Glyceryl trinitrate is well in the conservative management of anal fissures.

Material and Methods: The retrospective study was carried at Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Science Srinagar, Kashmir, India from Jan. 2005 to Dec. 2005. Total of 111 patients were studied, to evaluate the result of glyceryl trinitrate treatment in the management of anal fissures.

Results: 80% of the fissures healed with topical glyceryl trinitrate treatment over a period of 6-8 weeks, with no recurrence during a one year follow up. The remaining 20% patients had to be managed with manual dilatation (8 patients) and lateral internal sphincterotomy (14 patients).

Conclusion: Our conclusion is that glyceryl trinitrate induces a chemical sphincterortomy and produces healing of fissure in majority of patients. J Med Sci 2009;12(1):11-13.