An observational study in Complex Anal Fistula and Cryptoglandular Anal Fistula, sponsored by Acibadem Kent Hospital. Not yet recruiting at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-09-14.
Sponsored by Acibadem Kent Hospital · Observational
This prospective, single-center, self-controlled pilot cohort study evaluates whether loose seton biomaterial is associated with patient-reported outcomes in adults with recurrent or persistent complex cryptoglandular anal fistula.
Participants with an existing polypropylene loose seton who require seton replacement as part of routine clinical management will be prospectively enrolled. The decision to replace the seton will be made by the treating colorectal surgeon independently of study participation. No seton replacement or additional surgical procedure will be performed solely for research purposes.
Patient-reported outcomes will be assessed immediately before replacement while the polypropylene loose seton remains in place and will be reassessed at 4 and 12 weeks after replacement with a braided polyester loose seton. The primary outcome is the within-participant change in disease-specific quality of life measured using the Quality of Life in Patients with Anal Fistula Questionnaire (QoLAF-Q). Secondary outcomes include perianal pain, anal continence, patient comfort, foreign-body awareness, hygiene burden, anal discharge, interference with daily activities, patient satisfaction, analgesic use, and treatment-related adverse events.
The study uses a within-participant design in which each participant serves as their own control. As a pilot study, it will also evaluate recruitment, retention, questionnaire completion, protocol adherence, and outcome variability to inform the design of a future multicenter prospective study.
The SETon PROM Study is an investigator-initiated, prospective, single-center, self-controlled pilot cohort study designed to investigate the association between loose seton biomaterial and patient-reported outcomes during prolonged treatment of recurrent or persistent complex cryptoglandular anal fistula.
The study will enroll consecutive eligible adults who already have a polypropylene loose seton in situ and for whom replacement of the existing seton with a braided polyester loose seton has been determined to be clinically indicated as part of routine care. The clinical decision to replace the seton will be made before enrollment and independently of participation in the study. The study therefore does not assign participants to a treatment or require seton replacement for research purposes.
Each participant will serve as their own control. Baseline patient-reported outcomes will be collected immediately before seton replacement while the polypropylene seton remains in situ and will reflect the participant's experience during the preceding two weeks. The same outcome measures will subsequently be collected at 4 and 12 weeks after placement of the braided polyester loose seton.
Surgical technique, perioperative management, postoperative instructions, and follow-up procedures will be standardized to reduce variability unrelated to the seton biomaterial. Any additional intraoperative procedures, protocol deviations, complications, unplanned healthcare use, or changes in treatment strategy will be prospectively documented.
The study is intended to generate preliminary estimates of within-participant changes in patient-reported outcomes and to assess the feasibility of this prospective self-controlled design. The findings will be used to inform the methodology and sample-size planning of a future multicenter prospective comparative study.
169 studies on the registry are indexed under Rectal Fistula; 45 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 50 is below the median of 85 across 46 observational studies indexed under Rectal Fistula.
Browse Rectal Fistula studies →Acibadem Kent Hospital is the lead sponsor of 3 studies on the registry; 3 are open to participants now.
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Consecutive adult patients with recurrent or persistent complex cryptoglandular anal fistula who present to a tertiary referral colorectal surgery center with an existing polypropylene loose seton and for whom replacement with a braided polyester loose seton is clinically indicated as part of routine management will be screened for eligibility. Participants must have clinically stable disease without acute perianal sepsis requiring emergency intervention and must be able to complete patient-reported outcome questionnaires. Eligible patients providing written informed consent will be prospectively enrolled.
Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.
Exclusion Criteria:
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Malignancy means cancer. Criteria about another or earlier malignancy ask whether you have had a different cancer, usually within a set number of years.
Some are commonly allowed, such as treated skin cancers other than melanoma and early cancers removed completely — check the exceptions this study lists.
Informed consent
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Cancer (malignancy)
Malignancy means cancer. Criteria about another or earlier malignancy ask whether you have had a different cancer, usually within a set number of years.
Some are commonly allowed, such as treated skin cancers other than melanoma and early cancers removed completely — check the exceptions this study lists.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Adults with recurrent or persistent complex cryptoglandular anal fistula who have an existing polypropylene loose seton and undergo clinically indicated replacement with a braided polyester loose seton as part of routine clinical care. Patient-reported outcomes are assessed immediately before replacement while the polypropylene seton remains in situ and at 4 and 12 weeks after replacement with the braided polyester seton. Each participant serves as their own control.
Device: Loose Seton Biomaterial
Participants are observed during sequential exposure to two loose seton biomaterials. Patient-reported outcomes are assessed while an existing polypropylene loose seton is in situ and again at 4 and 12 weeks after clinically indicated replacement with a braided polyester loose seton. The decision to replace the seton is made by the treating colorectal surgeon as part of routine clinical care and independently of study participation. No seton replacement is performed solely for research purposes.
Change in Disease-Specific Quality of Life Measured by the Quality of Life in Patients with Anal Fistula Questionnaire (QoLAF-Q)
Within-participant change in disease-specific quality of life from baseline with the polypropylene loose seton in situ to 12 weeks after replacement with the braided polyester loose seton, assessed using the 14-item Quality of Life in Patients with Anal Fistula Questionnaire (QoLAF-Q). The total score ranges from 14 to 70, with higher scores indicating a greater negative impact of anal fistula on quality of life and therefore a worse outcome. The primary outcome will be calculated as the within-participant change in total QoLAF-Q score between baseline and 12 weeks after seton replacement.
Time frame: Baseline and 12 weeks after loose seton replacement
Change in Perianal Pain Assessed by the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS)
Within-participant change in perianal pain from baseline with the polypropylene loose seton in situ to 4 and 12 weeks after replacement with the braided polyester loose seton, assessed using the 10-cm Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). The scale ranges from 0 to 10, where 0 indicates no pain and 10 indicates the worst imaginable pain. Higher scores indicate greater pain severity and therefore a worse outcome.
Time frame: Baseline and 4 and 12 weeks after loose seton replacement
Change in Anal Continence Assessed by the Wexner Fecal Incontinence Score
Within-participant change in anal continence from baseline with the polypropylene loose seton in situ to 4 and 12 weeks after replacement with the braided polyester loose seton, assessed using the Wexner Fecal Incontinence Score. The total score ranges from 0 to 20, where 0 indicates perfect continence and 20 indicates complete fecal incontinence. Higher scores indicate more severe fecal incontinence and therefore a worse outcome.
Time frame: Baseline, 4 weeks, and 12 weeks after loose seton replacement
Change in Overall Patient Comfort Assessed Using an Investigator-Defined 5-Point Patient Comfort Rating Scale
Within-participant change in overall comfort associated with the loose seton from baseline with the polypropylene loose seton in situ to 4 and 12 weeks after replacement with the braided polyester loose seton, assessed using an investigator-defined 5-point Patient Comfort Rating Scale. Scores range from 1 to 5: 1, very uncomfortable; 2, uncomfortable; 3, neither uncomfortable nor comfortable; 4, comfortable; and 5, very comfortable. Higher scores indicate greater patient comfort and therefore a better outcome.
Time frame: Baseline, 4 weeks, and 12 weeks after loose seton replacement
Change in Patient Satisfaction With the Loose Seton Assessed Using an Investigator-Defined 5-Point Patient Satisfaction Rating Scale
Within-participant change in overall satisfaction with the loose seton from baseline with the polypropylene loose seton in situ to 4 and 12 weeks after replacement with the braided polyester loose seton, assessed using an investigator-defined 5-point Patient Satisfaction Rating Scale. Scores range from 1 to 5: 1, very dissatisfied; 2, dissatisfied; 3, neither dissatisfied nor satisfied; 4, satisfied; and 5, very satisfied. Higher scores indicate greater patient satisfaction and therefore a better outcome.
Time frame: Baseline, 4 weeks, and 12 weeks after loose seton replacement
Patient Preference for Loose Seton Biomaterial Assessed Using an Investigator-Defined Single-Item Preference Questionnaire
Participant-reported preference after experiencing both the polypropylene and braided polyester loose setons will be assessed using an investigator-defined single-item questionnaire: "Considering your overall experience, which loose seton material would you prefer?" Response options will be: (1) polypropylene loose seton, (2) braided polyester loose seton, and (3) no preference. Results will be reported as the number and percentage of participants selecting each response category. This is a categorical outcome; therefore, no minimum or maximum score or direction of scoring applies.
Time frame: 12 weeks after loose seton replacement
Cumulative Analgesic Consumption Assessed by a Participant-Reported Medication Diary
Cumulative analgesic consumption after replacement of the polypropylene loose seton with the braided polyester loose seton will be assessed using a participant-reported medication diary. Participants will record the name of each analgesic medication, the dose taken, and the date of administration. The outcome will be expressed as the total number of analgesic doses taken by each participant during the 12-week follow-up period. The minimum possible value is 0 doses, with no predefined maximum. Higher values indicate greater analgesic requirement and therefore a worse outcome.
Time frame: Through 12 weeks after loose seton replacement
Incidence of Postoperative Complications
Number and proportion of participants experiencing postoperative complications during follow-up, including local infection and premature seton loss.
Time frame: Through 12 weeks after loose seton replacement
Incidence of Unplanned Treatment-Related Healthcare Utilization or Reintervention Assessed by Medical Record Review and Participant Interview
The occurrence of any unplanned treatment-related healthcare utilization or reintervention following loose seton replacement will be assessed through medical record review and structured participant interview. A participant will be classified as having experienced the outcome if at least one of the following occurs during follow-up: an unplanned outpatient visit, emergency department attendance, hospital readmission, or an additional medical, radiological, or surgical intervention related to the loose seton or anal fistula. The outcome will be reported as the number and percentage of participants experiencing at least one event. This is a binary outcome (0 = no event; 1 = one or more events), with a value of 1 indicating a worse outcome.
Time frame: From loose seton replacement through 12 weeks after replacement
Plan to share: No — Individual participant data will not be publicly shared because of participant confidentiality and data protection considerations. Aggregated study results will be reported in scientific publications and presentations.
No publications or documents are linked to this record.
Start is estimated for Oct 2026; primary completion for Oct 2027, 12 months later.
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Acibadem Kent Hospital