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| ==Treatment== | | ==Treatment== |
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| ===Chemical sphincterotomy===
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| Painful deep chronic fissures, on the other hand, will not heal because of poor blood supply caused by sphincter spasm. Traditionally surgical operations were required which are both painful and associated with various longterm complications, particularly incontinence in a small proportion of cases. Local application of medications to relax the sphincter muscle, thus allowing the healing to proceed, was first proposed in 1994 with [[nitroglycerine]] ointment,<!--
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| --><ref>{{cite journal |author=Loder P, Kamm M, Nicholls R, Phillips R |title='Reversible chemical sphincterotomy' by local application of glyceryl trinitrate |journal=Br J Surg |volume=81 |issue=9 |pages=1386-9 |year=1994 |id=PMID 7953427}}</ref><!--
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| --><ref>{{cite journal |author=Watson S, Kamm M, Nicholls R, Phillips R |title=Topical glyceryl trinitrate in the treatment of chronic anal fissure |journal=Br J Surg |volume=83 |issue=6 |pages=771-5 |year=1996 |id=PMID 8696736}}</ref><!--
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| --><ref>{{cite journal | author = Simpson J, Lund J, Thompson R, Kapila L, Scholefield J | title = The use of glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) in the treatment of chronic anal fissure in children. | journal = Med Sci Monit | volume = 9 | issue = 10 | pages = PI123-6 | year = 2003 | id = PMID 14523338}}</ref>
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| in 1999 with [[nifedipine]] ointment,<!--
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| --><ref>{{cite journal |author=Antropoli C, Perrotti P, Rubino M, Martino A, De Stefano G, Migliore G, Antropoli M, Piazza P |title=Nifedipine for local use in conservative treatment of anal fissures: preliminary results of a multicenter study |journal=Dis Colon Rectum |volume=42 |issue=8 |pages=1011-5 |year=1999 |id=PMID 10458123}}</ref><!--
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| --><ref>{{cite journal |author=Katsinelos P, Kountouras J, Paroutoglou G, Beltsis A, Chatzimavroudis G, Zavos C, Katsinelos T, Papaziogas B |title=Aggressive treatment of acute anal fissure with 0.5% nifedipine ointment prevents its evolution to chronicity |journal=World J Gastroenterol |volume=12 |issue=38 |pages=6203-6 |year=2006 |id=PMID 17036396| url=http://www.wjgnet.com/1007-9327/12/6203.asp}}</ref>
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| and the following year with topical [[diltiazem]].<!-- --><ref>{{cite journal |author=Carapeti E, Kamm M, Phillips R |title=Topical diltiazem and bethanechol decrease anal sphincter pressure and heal anal fissures without side effects |journal=Dis. Colon Rectum |volume=43 |issue=10 |pages=1359-62 |year=2000 |pmid=11052511}}</ref>
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| Branded preparations are now available of topical nitroglycerine ointment (Rectogesic as 0.2% in Australia and 0.4% in UK) and diltiazem 2% (Anoheal in UK although still in Phase III development).
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| [[Botulinum toxin]] injection, administered by colorectal surgeons, can also be used to relax the sphincter muscle and its use for this condition was first investigated in 1993.<!--
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| --><ref>{{cite journal |author=Jost W, Schimrigk K |title=Use of botulinum toxin in anal fissure |journal=Dis Colon Rectum |volume=36 |issue=10 |pages=974 |year=1993 |id=PMID 8404394}}</ref>
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| Combination of medical therapies may offer up to 98% cure rates,<!--
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| --><ref>{{cite journal |author=Tranqui P, Trottier D, Victor C, Freeman J |title=Nonsurgical treatment of chronic anal fissure: nitroglycerin and dilatation versus nifedipine and botulinum toxin |journal=Canadian journal of surgery. Journal canadien de chirurgie |volume=49 |issue=1 |pages=41-5 |year=2006 |pmid=16524142 |url=http://www.cma.ca/multimedia/staticContent/HTML/N0/l2/cjs/vol-49/issue-1/pdf/pg41.pdf |format=PDF}}</ref>
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| These medical treatments are used as first line therapy in treating chronic anal fissures,<!--
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| --><ref>{{cite journal |author=Haq Z, Rahman M, Chowdhury R, Baten M, Khatun M |title=Chemical sphincterotomy--first line of treatment for chronic anal fissure |journal=Mymensingh Med J |volume=14 |issue=1 |pages=88-90 |year=2005 |id=PMID 15695964}}</ref>
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| although a [[Cochrane Collaboration]] review of published research has questioned the effectiveness of medical treatments compared to surgery.<!--
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| --><ref>{{cite journal |author=Nelson R |title=Non surgical therapy for anal fissure |journal=Cochrane database of systematic reviews (Online) |volume= |issue=4 |pages=CD003431 |year=2006 |pmid=17054170}}</ref>
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| ===Surgical sphincterotomy===
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| Surgical intervention may be required for persisting deep anal fissures unresponsive to the above conservative measures. Procedures include:
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| *Internal lateral sphincterotomy or [[excision|excising]] a portion of the sphincter
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| * Anal dilation or stretching of the anal canal is no longer recommended because of the unacceptably high incidence of [[fecal incontinence]].<ref>{{cite journal |author=Kotlarewsky M, Freeman JB, Cameron W, Grimard LJ |title=Anal intraepithelial dysplasia and squamous carcinoma in immunosuppressed patients |journal=Canadian journal of surgery. Journal canadien de chirurgie |volume=44 |issue=6 |pages=450-4 |year=2001 |pmid=11764880 |doi= |url=http://www.cma.ca/multimedia/staticContent/HTML/N0/l2/cjs/vol-44/issue-6/pdf/pg450.pdf |format=PDF}}</ref> In addition, anal stretching can increase the rate of flatus incontinence.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Sadovsky R |title=Diagnosis and management of patients with anal fissures - Tips from Other Journals |journal=American Family Physician |year=2003 |month=1 April |volume=67 | issue=7 |pages=1608 |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3225/is_7_67/ai_99410474 |format=Reprint}}</ref>
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| Despite the high success rate of these surgical procedures (~95%), there are potential side effects, which include: risks from [[anesthesia]], [[infection]] and anal leakage ([[fecal incontinence]]).
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| ==References== | | ==References== |