Liu YX, Liu CM. Integrating traditional Chinese medicine in anal fistula surgery: A step forward in holistic patient care. World J Gastrointest Surg 2026; 18(2): 114639 [DOI: 10.4240/wjgs.v18.i2.114639]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Chen-Ming Liu, Department of General Surgery, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 95 Yong’an Road, Xicheng District, Beijing 100050, China. lcm945256445@163.com
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Medicine, General & Internal
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Letter to the Editor
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This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Feb 27, 2026 (publication date) through Feb 26, 2026
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Publication Name
World Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery
ISSN
1948-9366
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Baishideng Publishing Group Inc, 7041 Koll Center Parkway, Suite 160, Pleasanton, CA 94566, USA
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Liu YX, Liu CM. Integrating traditional Chinese medicine in anal fistula surgery: A step forward in holistic patient care. World J Gastrointest Surg 2026; 18(2): 114639 [DOI: 10.4240/wjgs.v18.i2.114639]
World J Gastrointest Surg. Feb 27, 2026; 18(2): 114639 Published online Feb 27, 2026. doi: 10.4240/wjgs.v18.i2.114639
Integrating traditional Chinese medicine in anal fistula surgery: A step forward in holistic patient care
Yu-Xing Liu, Chen-Ming Liu
Yu-Xing Liu, Department of General Surgery, BenQ Medical Center, Nanjing 210000, Jiangsu Province, China
Chen-Ming Liu, Department of General Surgery, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100050, China
Chen-Ming Liu, National Clinical Research Center for Digestive Diseases, Beijing 100050, China
Author contributions: Liu YX contributed to conceptualization and original draft preparation; Liu YX and Liu CM overseeing supervision, review, editing, and project administration. All authors have read and approved the final manuscript.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Corresponding author: Chen-Ming Liu, Department of General Surgery, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 95 Yong’an Road, Xicheng District, Beijing 100050, China. lcm945256445@163.com
Received: September 24, 2025 Revised: October 31, 2025 Accepted: December 10, 2025 Published online: February 27, 2026 Processing time: 154 Days and 23.4 Hours
Abstract
This letter comments on the retrospective cohort study by Liu et al, which evaluates the integration of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) with conventional seton-based surgery for complex anal fistulas. The study reports a 90.0% success rate in the TCM-integrated group vs 78.8% in the conventional group, with a mean healing time reduced from 28.3 days to 21.5 days and recurrence rates of 5.0% vs 15.0%. These outcomes highlight the potential of TCM modalities - such as herbal decoctions and fumigation - to complement surgical management by addressing inflammation, pain, and tissue regeneration. While the retrospective design and single-center setting warrant cautious interpretation, this work provides a valuable foundation for future randomized trials and underscores the importance of personalized, integrative approaches in colorectal surgery. Further research should focus on standardizing TCM protocols and elucidating the underlying mechanisms of its efficacy.
Core Tip: This commentary discusses the study by Liu et al, which provides evidence for integrating traditional Chinese medicine with surgery in complex anal fistula management. We emphasize how this approach aligns with holistic care principles, addressing both anatomical defects and underlying inflammatory and regenerative processes. While the study’s retrospective design limits causal inference, it highlights the potential of integrative strategies to improve clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction, paving the way for future randomized trials to standardize protocols and validate efficacy.
