Comparative Study: Fistula Rerouting vs. LIFT for High Perianal Fistula

Recruiting now · Not applicable

Conditions studied: High Perianal Fistula

In brief

The goal of this clinical trial is to compare two different surgery methods for treating a complex type of anal fistula. This condition is an abnormal tunnel connecting the inside of the anus to the skin nearby. The main questions the study aims to answer are: Which surgery has a lower chance of the fistula coming back (recurrence)? Which surgery has a lower chance of causing problems with bowel control (incontinence) after healing? Researchers will compare two surgery groups: Group 1: Fistula Rerouting Technique - a two-step surgery that moves the fistula tract to a safer area before opening it. Group 2: LIFT Technique - a surgery that ties off and closes the fistula tract from between the anal muscles. Participants will be randomly assigned by a computer to one of these two surgery groups. This helps ensure the comparison between the two surgeries is fair. Participants in this study will: * Have tests before surgery, including an MRI scan, to confirm they have the specific type of fistula being studied. * Undergo one of the two planned surgical procedures. * Attend follow-up visits after surgery at 1 week, 2 weeks, 1 month, and 3 months. * Be checked during these visits for wound healing, pain, infection, and bowel control. * Have another MRI scan if the fistula is suspected to have come back.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT07399353

Run by

Cairo University

People needed

40

Starts

2025-08-28

Expected to finish

2026-06-01

Last updated by the study team

2026-02-10

Who can join

Age: 20 and older, up to 65. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Adult patients (age 20-65 years) presenting with a high perianal fistula, defined as:Trans-sphincteric fistula tract traversing the upper two-thirds of the external anal sphincter, Or Extrasphincteric fistula.
• Patients with recurrent perianal fistula.
• Ability to provide informed consent.

You may not qualify if…

• Patients with preoperative fecal incontinence (as assessed by the Cleveland Clinic Fecal Incontinence Score).
• Diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease (e.g., Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis).
• Pregnant women.
• Pediatric patients (age < 20 years).
• Patients with complex, branching fistula tracts.
• Any contraindication to spinal/general anesthesia or surgery.

Where it is running

• Faculty of Medicine Cairo University — Cairo, Al-Manial Cairo, Egypt (enrolling)

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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