Treatment of fistula-in-ano with cyanoacrylate glue with and without prior seton placement in rats

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of ethyl-cyanoacrylate in the treatment of fístula-in-ano in rats with and without prior seton placement. METHODS: Thirty rats Wistar with fístula-in-ano produced surgically, distributed in three groups: group A (ethyl-cyanoacrylate) - treated by application of ethyl-cyanoacrylate into fístula tract; group B (seton + ethyl-cyanoacrylate) - seton placement followed by application of ethyl-cyanoacrylate into fístula tract, 30 days later; group C (control) - no treatment. After 60 days the animals were submited to euthanasia and the specimens were analyzed by pathologist. The results were analyzed by Chi-square test with significant value of p<0.05. RESULTS: One animal of group B died. Were found tracts fully healed: 7, 5 and 2, in groups A, B and C, respectivelly. There was a statistically significant difference between groups A and C (p=0.02). When joined all animals treated with glue (A + B) compared to group C there was also statistically significant difference (p=0.02). CONCLUSIONS: The use of ethyl-cyanoacrylate glue was effective in closing anal fistulae in rats. There was no advantage in the prior application of seton.