Annals of Coloproctology

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Technical Note

Transanal opening of the intersphincteric space (TROPIS): a novel procedure on the horizon to effectively manage high complex anal fistulas: Pankaj Garg, Anvesha Mongia; Ann Coloproctol. 2024;40(1):74-81. Published online October 24, 2023; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3393/ac.2022.01263.0180

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Anal fistulas, especially complex and high fistulas, are difficult to manage. The transanal opening of the intersphincteric space (TROPIS) procedure was first described in 2017, and a high success rate of over 90% was reported in high complex fistulas. Since then, more studies and even a meta-analysis have corroborated the high efficacy of this procedure in high fistulas. Conventionally, the main focus was to close the internal (primary) opening for the fistula to heal. However, most complex fistulas have a component of the fistula tract in the intersphincteric plane. This component is like an abscess (sepsis) in a closed space (2 muscle layers). It is a well-known fact that in the presence of sepsis, healing by secondary intention leads to better results than attempting to heal by primary intention. Therefore, TROPIS is the first procedure in which, instead of closing the internal opening, the opening is widened by laying open the fistula tract in the intersphincteric plane so that healing can occur by secondary intention. Although the drainage of high intersphincteric abscesses through the transanal route was described 5 decades ago, the routine utilization of TROPIS for the definitive management of high complex fistulas was first described in 2017. The external anal sphincter (EAS) is completely spared in TROPIS, as the fistula tract on either side of the EAS is managed separately—inner (medial) to the EAS by laying open the intersphincteric space and outer (lateral) to the EAS by curettage or excision.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Steps to Enhance the Cure Rate of the TROPIS Procedure in Complex Anal Fistulas
Pankaj Garg, Vipul Yagnik, Kaushik Bhattacharya
ANZ Journal of Surgery.2026;[Epub] CrossRef
Perianal fistula a silent epidemic that face proctology and coloproctology in public health
Alida Vallejo-López , Josefina Ramírez-Amaya , Cesar Noboa-Terán
Salud, Ciencia y Tecnología.2025; 5: 1360. CrossRef
TROPIS is effective in managing complex anal fistulas with additional supralevator rectal opening (ASRO) by Garg phenomenon
Nicola Clemente, James C.W. Khaw, Yuliya Medkova, Pankaj Garg
Cirugía Española (English Edition).2025; 103(6): 800101. CrossRef
Response to the Letter to the Editor regarding our article on efficacy one year after the TROPIS Technique for the treatment of complex anal fistula
Fernando de la Portilla de Juan, María Luisa Reyes Díaz, Fátima Hinojosa Ramirez
Cirugía Española (English Edition).2025; 103(6): 800119. CrossRef
Respuesta a la carta al editor sobre nuestro artículo «Eficacia al año de la técnica TROPIS en la fístula perianal compleja»
Fernando de la Portilla de Juan, María Luisa Reyes Díaz, Fátima Hinojosa Ramirez
Cirugía Española.2025; 103(6): 800119. CrossRef
Systematic review and meta-analysis of Transanal Opening of Intersphincteric Space (TROPIS) versus conventional treatments for anal fistula
Yang-Tao Chen, Zhao-Chu Wang, Ya-Meng Xie, Xun Wang, Xu-Xiong Wu, Yang Li, Rong Shi, Jing Wang
Surgery Open Science.2025; 27: 15. CrossRef
TROPIS is effective in managing complex anal fistulas with additional supralevator rectal opening (ASRO) by Garg phenomenon
Nicola Clemente, James C.W. Khaw, Yuliya Medkova, Pankaj Garg
Cirugía Española.2025; 103(6): 800101. CrossRef
Transanal opening of intersphincteric space (TROPIS) treatment for high complex anal fistula: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Pengfei Zhou, Jingen Lu, Yanting Sun, Jiawen Wang
International Journal of Surgery.2025; 111(10): 7301. CrossRef
The Management of the Intersphincteric Component of Anal Fistula Tract Is Pivotal in Response to “A Pilot Study of Porcine Acellular Bladder Matrix Filling in the Treatment of Anal Fistulas”
Pankaj Garg, Vipul Yagnik, Kaushik Bhattacharya
ANZ Journal of Surgery.2025; 95(12): 2626. CrossRef
Recent advances in the diagnosis and treatment of complex anal fistula
Pankaj Garg, Kaushik Bhattacharya, Vipul D. Yagnik, G. Mahak
Annals of Coloproctology.2024; 40(4): 321. CrossRef
Tissue engineering and regenerative medicine approaches in colorectal surgery
Bigyan B. Mainali, James J. Yoo, Mitchell R. Ladd
Annals of Coloproctology.2024; 40(4): 336. CrossRef
Achieving a high cure rate in complex anal fistulas: understanding the conceptual role of the Garg cardinal principles
Pankaj Garg, Nicola Clemente, James C. W. Khaw
Annals of Coloproctology.2024; 40(5): 521. CrossRef
Comparative Evaluation Between Cutting of the Intersphincteric Space vs Cutting Seton in High Anal Fistula: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Jiawei Qin, Yanlan Wu, Xueping Zheng, Kunlan Wu, Gongjian Dai, Yanyan Tan, Xu Yang, Yuqing Sun
Journal of the American College of Surgeons.2024; 239(6): 563. CrossRef
Invited Commentary: The Quest for the Panacea Treatment for Anal Fistula
Steven D Wexner
Journal of the American College of Surgeons.2024; 239(6): 573. CrossRef

Original Article

Anorectal benign disease

The management of complex fistula in ano by transanal opening of the intersphincteric space (TROPIS): short-term results: Shrivats Mishra, Dileep S. Thakur, Uday Somashekar, Amrendra Verma, Dhananjay Sharma; Ann Coloproctol. 2024;40(5):474-480. Published online March 31, 2023; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3393/ac.2022.01018.0145

8,563 View
301 Download
10 Web of Science
10 Citations

Abstract PDF

Purpose
Many methods have been used to treat complex fistulas, but no single technique has been considered standard. Damage to the sphincter may sometimes be unavoidable, and incontinence may be an important cause of morbidity. This study aimed to validate the results of transanal opening of the intersphincteric space (TROPIS), as a technique that avoids damaging the anal sphincter, in patients with complex fistula in ano.
Methods
A prospective study was conducted among 35 consecutive patients with complex fistula in ano. After a preoperative magnetic resonance fistulogram, TROPIS was performed in all patients. The St. Mark’s incontinence score was assessed preoperatively and postoperatively at 3 months.
Results
The tracts were intersphincteric in 16 patients, transsphincteric in 10, extrasphincteric in 2, and horseshoe in 3. Four patients had recurrent tracts (3 transsphincteric and 1 intersphincteric). A defined follow-up schedule was used. Curettage was done if postoperative pus drainage from the wound was noted. The fistula healed in 29 patients (82.89%) following TROPIS. The remaining 6 patients received curettage, with healing in 3 (overall healing rate, 91.4%). Patients who received curettage were followed for 3 months, and the outcome was labeled as healed or failed. The mean preoperative incontinence score was 0. One patient developed incontinence to gas postoperatively in week 2, but there was no significant change in the scores at 3 months postoperatively. The mean postoperative incontinence score was 0.02.
Conclusion
TROPIS is an effective method for the treatment of complex fistula in ano, with minimal risk for incontinence.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Clinical efficacy and failure-related factors of the loose-seton procedure combined with transanal opening of the intersphincteric space technique (LoSet-TROPlS) in the treatment of complex anal fistulas
Qinghan Ma, Mengqing Dong, Hongwei Hua, Zhenyi Wang, Jiong Wu, Lei Jin
Techniques in Coloproctology.2026;[Epub] CrossRef
Transanal Opening of the Intersphincteric Space (TROPIS) Is Effective in Managing High Complex as It Is Based on Garg Cardinal Principles
Pankaj Garg, Nicola Clemente, James C. W. Khaw
Digestive Diseases and Sciences.2025; 70(6): 2219. CrossRef
Systematic review and meta-analysis of Transanal Opening of Intersphincteric Space (TROPIS) versus conventional treatments for anal fistula
Yang-Tao Chen, Zhao-Chu Wang, Ya-Meng Xie, Xun Wang, Xu-Xiong Wu, Yang Li, Rong Shi, Jing Wang
Surgery Open Science.2025; 27: 15. CrossRef
Long-term Outcomes of Primary Fistula Closure With Platelet-Rich Plasma: A Prospective Study
María Luisa Reyes Díaz, Fátima Hinojosa Ramírez, Rocío Olmo Santiago, Irene M. Ramallo-Solís, Rosa M. Jiménez Rodríguez, José Pintor Tortolero, Jorge M. Vázquez-Monchul, Ana M. García Cabrera, Fernando de la Portilla de Juan
Diseases of the Colon & Rectum.2025; 68(8): 992. CrossRef
Transanal opening of intersphincteric space (TROPIS) treatment for high complex anal fistula: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Pengfei Zhou, Jingen Lu, Yanting Sun, Jiawen Wang
International Journal of Surgery.2025; 111(10): 7301. CrossRef
TROPIS Procedure in Complex Anal Fistulas: Single‐Center Long‐Term Results
Hikmet Pehlevan‐Özel, Zeynep Nur Yurdakul, Hüseyin Fahri Martlı, Sabiha Nur Özmen, Sadettin Er, Erdinç Çetinkaya, Tezcan Akın, Özgür Akgül
ANZ Journal of Surgery.2025;[Epub] CrossRef
Recent Advances in the Understanding and Management of Anal Fistula from India
Vipul D. Yagnik, Sandeep Kumar, Anshul Thakur, Kaushik Bhattacharya, Sushil Dawka, Pankaj Garg
Indian Journal of Surgery.2024; 86(6): 1105. CrossRef
Rectovaginal Fistulas Not Involving the Rectovaginal Septum Should Be Treated Like Anal Fistulas: A New Concept and Proposal for a Reclassification of Rectovaginal Fistulas
Pankaj Garg, Laxmikant Ladukar, Vipul Yagnik, Kaushik Bhattacharya, Gurleen Kaur
Clinical and Experimental Gastroenterology.2024; Volume 17: 97. CrossRef
Structured magnetic resonance imaging and endoanal ultrasound anal fistulas reporting template (SMART): An interdisciplinary Delphi consensus
Iwona Sudoł-Szopińska, Pankaj Garg, Anders Mellgren, Antonino Spinelli, Stephanie Breukink, Francesca Iacobellis, Małgorzata Kołodziejczak, Przemysław Ciesielski, Jenssen Christian, Giulio Aniello Santoro
World Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery.2024; 16(10): 3288. CrossRef
Botulinum injection technique to reduce spasms in refractory anal fissures and after anal fistula or hemorrhoid surgery
Pankaj Garg, Vipul D. Yagnik, Kaushik Bhattacharya
Annals of Coloproctology.2024; 40(6): 610. CrossRef

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