Skip to main content
2026 ASCRS Annual Scientific Meeting Main banner
Icon Legend
This session is not in your schedule.
This session is in your schedule. Click again to remove it.
Presentation Icons
CME
CME
Invitation/Ticketed Event
Invitation/Ticketed Event
Invited Lectureship
Invited Lectureship
Award Recipient
Award Recipient
Live Streamed Session
Live Streamed Session
Nurses Contact Hours
Nurses Contact Hours
Self-Assessment
Self-Assessment
Live Q&A and Polling
Live Q&A and Polling
Social
Social
Industry
Industry
ViewAttendees 1

Session:: ePosters-Mon330-M7: Benign Anorectal

EP1091 - Mapping the Demographic Landscape of Anal Fistula: Insights from a Multilevel Hospital Study

Monday, May 11, 2026
4:30 PM - 4:35 PM ET
Purpose/Background: Anal fistula is a relatively common proctologic condition, with an incidence ranging from 1.2 to 2.8 cases per 10,000 individuals per year. It predominantly affects men-at nearly twice the rate observed in women-and most frequently presents between the ages of 30 and 50. Characterized by chronic granulomatous inflammation in the perianal region, anal fistulas can significantly impair a patient's quality of life and pose a considerable burden on healthcare systems due to their recurrent nature and challenging management. The aim of this study was to describe and analyze the demographic, diagnostic, and therapeutic characteristics of 1,018 patients with anal fistula treated at a tertiary-level hospital.

Methods/Interventions: A retrospective, observational, cross-sectional and analytical retrospective study was carried out, including 1,018 patients with a diagnosis of anal fístula,The sample was collected from complete clinical records, excluding cases with missing data in the variables of interest. The main variables analyzed were age, gender, diagnosis, and the type of treatment performed.Statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS software version 30.0, employing descriptive procedures and graphical methods to visualize the distribution of the variables.

Results/Outcomes: The mean age was 45.9 years (SD = 11.9), with a range between 16 and 86 years. The gender distribution showed a clear predominance of males, with 847 cases (83.2%) compared to 171 female cases (16.8%).When analyzed by gender, it was observed that women had a significantly lower mean age (42.4 years, SD = 10.6) compared to men (46.7 years, SD = 12.0).The analysis of diagnoses revealed that the four most frequent diagnoses were: high anterior transsphincteric (26.9%, n = 274), posterior intersphincteric (12.4%, n = 126), low anterior transsphincteric (11.0%, n = 112), and anterior intersphincteric (10.8%, n = 110), suggesting specific patterns in the presentation and complexity of anal fistulas in the studied population.Regarding the type of treatment performed, the most frequent procedure was fistulotomy alone in 615 patients (60.4%), followed by fistulotomy with seton in 320 cases (31.4%). Other less common treatments included the Lift technique (3.2%), fistulotomy with anal plasty (2.0%), plug (1.0%), and combinations such as advancement flap and fistulectomy, among others.

Conclusion/Discussion: Our study provides relevant evidence on the epidemiological profile and therapeutic management of anal fistula. It was found that the majority of patients are male with a mean age of approximately 46 years, which is consistent with the literature. Additionally, the analysis of diagnoses allowed for the identification of distinct clinical subgroups, highlighting the need for personalized therapeutic approaches.

FIGURE 2
1,posterior intersphincteric; 2,anterior intersphincteric; 3, left intersphincteric; 4, high anterior transsphincteric; 5, high right transsphincteric; 6, high left transsphincteric; 7, low anterior transsphincteric; 8, low posterior transsphincteric; 9, low right transsphincteric; 10, low left transsphincteric; 11, anterior superficial; 12, posterior superficial; 13, left superficial; 14, posterior intersphincteric with a horseshoe configuration; 15, posterior supralevator; 16, high posterior transsphincteric with a horseshoe component; 17, low anterior transsphincteric with horseshoe; 18, low posterior transsphincteric with horseshoe; 19, right intersphincteric; 20, right superficial; 21, left supralevator; and 22, high posterior transsphincteric.


FIGURE 1
1,posterior intersphincteric; 2,anterior intersphincteric; 3, left intersphincteric; 4, high anterior transsphincteric; 5, high right transsphincteric; 6, high left transsphincteric; 7, low anterior transsphincteric; 8, low posterior transsphincteric; 9, low right transsphincteric; 10, low left transsphincteric; 11, anterior superficial; 12, posterior superficial; 13, left superficial; 14, posterior intersphincteric with a horseshoe configuration; 15, posterior supralevator; 16, high posterior transsphincteric with a horseshoe component; 17, low anterior transsphincteric with horseshoe; 18, low posterior transsphincteric with horseshoe; 19, right intersphincteric; 20, right superficial; 21, left supralevator; and 22, high posterior transsphincteric.