Effects of warm water sitz bath on symptoms in post-anal sphincterotomy in chronic anal fissure [...]

Site Editor — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 18:21:51 -0700

Effects of warm water sitz bath on symptoms in post-anal sphincterotomy in chronic anal fissure--a randomized and controlled study.: World J Surg. 2007 Jul;31(7):1480-4 Authors: Gupta PJ

BACKGROUND: Sitz bath is frequently recommended by physicians for a variety of anal disorders including anal fissure. The aim of the present study was to determine whether sitz bath does have any therapeutic properties improving upon a patient's postoperative symptoms after a closed lateral sphincterotomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-six patients were randomly assigned to receive analgesics and fiber supplement alone (control patients) or a twice-daily sitz bath along with identical fiber and analgesics (sitz bath group). A 24-h pain score--post-defecation anal burning and symptom improvement--was evaluated on a visual analog scale (VAS). RESULTS: The groups were equally matched for age, gender distribution, and duration of disease. No significant difference in mean pain score between groups (p = 0.284) was noticed after one week. However, the patients from the control group experienced significant anal burning compared with patients from sitz bath group (p < 0.0001). The improvement score was higher in the sitz bath group when compared with the control group; however, it did not reached a statistically significant level. CONCLUSIONS: Patients after sphincterotomy for anal fissure receiving sitz bath experienced similar levels of pain when compared with those not receiving sitz bath. However, they reported a significant relief in anal burning and a marginally better satisfaction score and no reported adverse side effects.

PMID: 17534541 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Herbal Science Research - nature cure

Effects of warm water sitz bath on symptoms in post-anal sphincterotomy in chronic anal fissure [...]