For how long is a draining seton (drainage catheter) typically left in place for a patient with a fistula-in-ano (anal fistula)?

Duration of Draining Seton Placement for Fistula-in-Ano

For cryptoglandular (non-Crohn's) fistula-in-ano, remove the draining seton between 6 weeks to 3 months after insertion, with most surgeons favoring removal around 6-12 weeks once drainage has resolved and inflammation has subsided. 1

Timing Based on Fistula Etiology

Cryptoglandular (Non-Crohn's) Fistulas

• The optimal removal window is 6 weeks to 3 months post-insertion, as practiced by 58% of Dutch gastrointestinal surgeons surveyed in a national practice patterns study 1

• Healing typically occurs within a median of 9 weeks (range 4-62 weeks) when setons are used as definitive treatment, with complete healing achieved in 78% of patients 2

• For deep horseshoe fistulas specifically, setons can be removed as early as 21-32 days when combined with patient-performed irrigation techniques, compared to conventional loose seton treatment requiring longer duration 3

• Setons can be left in place indefinitely if needed, though patients may prefer suppressive medical therapy over long-term seton placement 4

Crohn's Disease-Associated Fistulas

• Remove the seton only after completing the induction phase of anti-TNF therapy (approximately 4-6 weeks) AND achieving resolution of proctitis 4

• The timing of seton removal in Crohn's disease is highly variable across studies, ranging from 4 to 27 weeks post-insertion, reflecting the heterogeneity and low quality of available evidence 4

• In the ACCENT 2 trial, all setons were removed by Week 2 of anti-TNF therapy, resulting in a 15% new abscess rate, suggesting this may be too early 4

• When combining seton placement with anti-TNF therapy followed by surgical closure within 52 weeks, this approach achieves the best long-term outcomes, with cumulative fistula closure rates of 43.8% at 1 year, 82.2% at 3 years, and 93.7% at 5 years 4

• The seton may be removed in up to 98% of Crohn's patients at a median of 33 weeks when used with optimal medical therapy 5

Critical Decision Points for Seton Removal

Signs Indicating Readiness for Removal

• Cessation of purulent drainage is the primary clinical indicator, typically occurring at 18-30 days depending on wound management technique 3

• Resolution of perianal inflammation and absence of active proctitis on examination 4

• Completion of anti-TNF induction therapy in Crohn's patients (minimum 4-6 weeks) 4

Risks of Premature Removal

• Removing the seton too early carries a high risk of recurrent perianal abscess formation, particularly if removed before inflammation has adequately resolved 4

• In Crohn's disease, early removal before completing anti-TNF induction resulted in a 15% abscess recurrence rate 4

Risks of Prolonged Placement

• Leaving the seton in place too long may result in epithelialization of the fistula tract, potentially preventing spontaneous closure 4

• However, long-term seton drainage alone (without definitive closure) was associated with the highest reintervention rate (67%) compared to anti-TNF therapy (40%) or surgical closure (21%) in the PISA trial 4

Algorithm for Seton Management Duration

For Simple Cryptoglandular Fistulas

1. Insert loose draining seton at initial drainage 4, 5
2. Monitor for cessation of purulent drainage (typically 2-4 weeks) 3
3. Remove seton at 6-12 weeks if drainage has resolved and no signs of active inflammation 1
4. Consider leaving indefinitely if patient prefers this over repeat surgery, as setons can remain in place safely long-term 4

For Crohn's Disease-Associated Fistulas

1. Place loose draining seton at initial presentation 4, 5
2. Initiate anti-TNF therapy (infliximab or adalimumab) with concomitant immunomodulator 4
3. Complete anti-TNF induction phase (minimum 4-6 weeks) before considering seton removal 4
4. Confirm resolution of proctitis via proctosigmoidoscopy 4
5. Remove seton at 6-12 weeks if above criteria met 4, 1
6. For optimal outcomes, proceed to surgical closure within 52 weeks of combined seton/anti-TNF therapy 4

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

• Never remove a seton before completing anti-TNF induction in Crohn's patients, as this significantly increases abscess recurrence risk 4

• Do not rely on long-term seton drainage alone as definitive treatment in Crohn's disease, as this approach has the highest reintervention rate and should be combined with medical therapy and/or surgical closure 4

• Avoid probing for fistulas during acute abscess drainage, as this creates iatrogenic complications; place seton only if obvious fistula is present 4

• Do not use cutting setons in any context, as they result in keyhole deformity and fecal incontinence rates as high as 57% 4