[Functional results following fistulectomy with primary muscle suture in high anal fistula. A prospective clinical and manometric study].

A prospective study was carried out on 46 patients with anal fistula to evaluate clinical aspects and anal manometry. In 26 patients a high fistula was diagnosed (type II, n = 20; type III, n = 6). In those cases the sphincter-saving technique with primarily muscle suturing was used. 70% (n = 14) of type II and 100% (n = 6) of type III had been operated on before. Out of 26 five patients (19.2%) with high anal fistula developed incontinence in the case of watery stools postoperatively, 4 of those only once in a while. There was no complaint about incontinence for solid stool at all.