Effect of topical glyceryl trinitrate on the management of acute anal fissure

To find out the effect of topical glyceryl trinitrate on the symptoms and signs of acute anal fissure. Seventy-five patients were treated with 0.2% topical glyceryl trinitrate twice daily as local application in the anal canal with the help of cotton pledget, which was soaked in the ointment for four weeks and their symptomatology, and healing of anal fissure was assessed weekly. The study was carried out at a surgical unit of Combined Military Hospital Rawalpindi for six months from June 2004 to December 2004. Out of 75 patients, 42 had complete healing of anal fissure while six had partial healing. Thus the healing rate was 64% observed in our study. 0.2% Glyceryl trinitrate ointment is an effective way of treating acute anal fissure. (author)