LIFT in Anal Fistula- A Systematic Review

Author(s): Ovi MRA, Nasrin S, Talukdar MMI, Islam N, Jalal MT.

Background: The procedure known as Ligation of the Intersphincteric Fistula Tract (LIFT) is used to treat anal fistulas while preserving the sphincter. Numerous studies have been conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of this procedure, yielding different outcomes.

Aim of the study: The aim of this review is to evaluate the pertinent literature related to this subject.

Methods: The review used the PRISMA statement.The search engines PubMed, Google Scholar and Medline were searched for articles published in English.

Result: Fifteen papers were reviewed from a pool of 108 papers.The total number of patients included was 539.The main outcomes measured were healing rates, duration of follow-up, recurrence rate, and post-operative incontinence. Specifics of the surgical method were the following goals. The majority of studies examined in this review involved patients who had trans-sphincteric or complex fistulas that were not suitable for treatment with fistulotomy.

Conclusion: The LIFT procedure is considered a relatively new, costeffective, and easily learnable method for preserving the sphincter muscle while treating fistulas. It has shown promising results in terms of safety, feasibility, and positive outcomes in both the short and long term.