Wei J, Zhang MC, Shen YH, Jiao Y, Liu YH. Integrating traditional Chinese medicine with modern surgery: A comprehensive approach to complex anal fistula. World J Gastrointest Surg 2026; 18(3): 114917 [DOI: 10.4240/wjgs.v18.i3.114917]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Ya-Hui Liu, Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, General Surgery Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, No. 1 Xinmin Street, Changchun 130021, Jilin Province, China. yahui@jlu.edu.cn
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Gastroenterology & Hepatology
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Editorial
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Mar 27, 2026 (publication date) through Mar 29, 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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Wei J, Zhang MC, Shen YH, Jiao Y, Liu YH. Integrating traditional Chinese medicine with modern surgery: A comprehensive approach to complex anal fistula. World J Gastrointest Surg 2026; 18(3): 114917 [DOI: 10.4240/wjgs.v18.i3.114917]
World J Gastrointest Surg. Mar 27, 2026; 18(3): 114917 Published online Mar 27, 2026. doi: 10.4240/wjgs.v18.i3.114917
Integrating traditional Chinese medicine with modern surgery: A comprehensive approach to complex anal fistula
Jia Wei, Ming-Chen Zhang, Yi-Hong Shen, Yan Jiao, Ya-Hui Liu
Jia Wei, Department of the Hyperbaric Oxygen, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130021, Jilin Province, China
Ming-Chen Zhang, Yi-Hong Shen, Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, General Surgery Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130021, Jilin Province, China
Yan Jiao, Ya-Hui Liu, Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, General Surgery Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130021, Jilin Province, China
Co-corresponding authors: Yan Jiao and Ya-Hui Liu.
Author contributions: Wei J and Shen YH contributed to the conceptualization and methodology of the study; Zhang MC and Jiao Y contributed to the literature review and drafting of the manuscript; Liu YH supervised the research and provided critical revisions; Jiao Y and Liu YH contributed equally to this manuscript as co-corresponding authors. All authors have reviewed and approved the final manuscript.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Corresponding author: Ya-Hui Liu, Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, General Surgery Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, No. 1 Xinmin Street, Changchun 130021, Jilin Province, China. yahui@jlu.edu.cn
Received: October 1, 2025 Revised: November 1, 2025 Accepted: December 8, 2025 Published online: March 27, 2026 Processing time: 177 Days and 11.3 Hours
Abstract
Complex anal fistula remains a formidable clinical challenge due to its intricate anatomy, high recurrence rates, and risk of functional impairment. Conventional surgical approaches, including fistulotomy, seton placement, and sphincter-sparing procedures such as ligation of intersphincteric fistula tract or video-assisted anal fistula treatment, provide variable outcomes and are often associated with delayed wound healing or incontinence. Recently, the integration of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) into surgical management has gained attention for its potential to enhance wound repair, modulate inflammatory responses, and reduce postoperative recurrence. TCM modalities - including herbal formulations, topical applications, and acupuncture - not only accelerate granulation tissue formation but also regulate immune homeostasis by influencing pathways such as phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B, hypoxia-inducible factor-1, and ransforming growth factor-β/mothers against decapentaplegic homolog. Clinical evidence suggests that combining syndrome differentiation-based TCM therapies with surgical interventions achieves synergistic effects, improving healing rates and preserving anorectal function. In this editorial, we comment on the article by Liu et al published in the recent issue of the World Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery. This editorial synthesizes current surgical strategies and highlights the emerging role of TCM in complex anal fistula treatment, emphasizing the importance of individualized, multidisciplinary approaches. By bridging modern surgical precision with traditional holistic regulation, integrative therapy holds promise for advancing patient outcomes and establishing new standards in anorectal surgery.
Core Tip: The management of complex anal fistulas requires a comprehensive approach that integrates modern surgical techniques with traditional Chinese medicine. Combining precise anatomical interventions with traditional Chinese medicine’s holistic modulation of inflammation and tissue repair can significantly improve healing rates, reduce recurrence, and preserve anorectal function, ultimately enhancing patient recovery and quality of life.
