The use of nitroglycerin ointment in the treatment of anal fissures

Abstract EN

Purpose: Comparing nitroglycerin ointment and other modalities of treatment like anal dilatation by four fingers under general anaesthesia, lateral sphincterotomy of the internal anal sphincter muscle, botulinum toxin injection, calcium channel blockers, ....

etc in regard to patients compliance, healing rate, symptomatic relief, side effects and cost.

Methods : 48 patients, 29 (60 %) were males and 19 (40 %) were females had been studied prospectively after receiving a two weeks course of 0.2 % nitroglycerin ointment every 6 hours, stool softeners and simple analgesia.

The patients had been followed up in the outpatient clinic and the response to the treatment, regarding healing of fissures and relief of symptoms has been recorded.

Results : 28 (58 %) of the patients had symptomatic relief and good healing of their fissures and 20 (42 %) had poor healing.

10 (50 %) of the poor healers had symptomatic relief 36 (75 %) of the patients needed no subsequent surgery.

None of the patients had side effects to the treatment.

Conclusion : nitroglycerin ointment is a safe and effective method for the treatment of anal fissures with high healing rate and symptomatic relief together with low cost and minimal side effects leading to the high level of compliance of the patients.