Surgical management of chronic anal fissure: A descriptive study

Aim: to determine the outcome of lateral internal sphincterotomy for the management of chronic anal fissure. methods: in 100 patients of chronic anal fissure,lateral internal sphincterotomy was performed. patients were included in this study from the surgical out patient department at bahawal victoria hospital,bahawalpur from june 2007 to may 2008. all the patients were followed for 12 weeks to establish the benefits of lateral internal sphincterotomy. results: sixty seven males and 33 females with anal pain due to chronic anal fissure were included in the study. mean age was 34±7. 48 years and mean hospital stay was 3±0.89 days. painful defecation,blood streak with stools and chronic constipation were common complaints. they were all treated surgically by lateral internal sphincterotomy under general anesthesia after proper preparation and followed for 3 months. pain,bleeding from wound site and wound sepsis were the common complications followed by transient urinary retention,incontinence and recurrence. conclusion: among the surgical management of chronic anal fissure lateral internal sphincterotomy is a safe procedure for patients with chronic anal fissure. it can done even on outdoor basis and shown no serious complications.