Quality of life following fistulotomy – short term follow‐up

Aim Anal fistula causes pain and discharge of pus and blood. Treatment by fistulotomy has the highest success, but can risk continence; treatment needs to balance cure with continence. This study assessed the impact of fistulotomy on quality of life (QOL) and continence. Method Patients selected for fistulotomy prospectively completed the St Mark's Continence Score (full incontinence = 24) and Short Form‐36 questionnaires preoperatively at two institutions with an interest in anal fistula. Patients were reassessed 3 months’ postoperatively. Results There were 52 patients with a median age of 44 (range 19–82) years; 10 were women. Preoperative continence scores were median 0 (range 0–23) and there was no significant difference compared with postoperative scores (median 1, range 0–24). Following fistulotomy QOL was significantly improved in four of eight domains – Bodily Pain (P