Tuesday Poster Session
Category: Colon

Sheza Malik, MD
Emory University
Atlanta, GA
Chronic anal fissure (CAF) is a common and painful condition, often resistant to conservative treatments. Traditional surgical interventions like lateral internal sphincterotomy (LIS) are effective but associated with risks such as fecal incontinence. Laser therapy has emerged as a minimally invasive alternative.
A systematic review of studies evaluating laser therapy for CAF was conducted, focusing on outcomes such as pain reduction at 1 and 3 months, adverse events, bleeding, and persistent pain. Meta-analyses were performed using a random-effects model.
Laser therapy is a promising, minimally invasive treatment for CAF, offering significant pain relief and a low risk of complications. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings and establish standardized treatment protocols.

