Anal Fistula Surgery

Anal fistula is one of the common anorectal diseases. An anal fistula is a small tunnel (tract) with an internal opening in the anorectal canal and an external opening in the skin near the anus. It usually occurs after an anal abscess.

The diagnosis of anal fistula can be easily made by detecting the external opening of an anal fistula.  Anal fistulas are classified by their location in relation to the anal sphincter muscles (intersphincteric transphincteric, suprasphincteric, and extrasphincteric fistula). Doctors may use anoscope and a probe to identify the fistula path. If a fistula appears particularly complicated or in an unusual place, doctors may also do the fistulography and colonoscopy for further evaluation.

It is important to treat an anal fistula to relieve the symptoms and prevent re-infection. The goal of treatment is to cure the fistula with as little impact as possible on the sphincter muscles. Patients treated for anal fistulas at One Stop Procedure Clinic benefit from skilled surgeons specialized in treating common anorectal diseases.

Fistulotomy

The surgeon first probes to find the fistula's internal opening. Then the surgeon cuts the tract open and curettes it, then the wound is stitched in a way that the fistula is laid open.

To treat a more complicated fistula, the surgeon may lay open only the segment where the tracts join and remove the remainder of the tracts. The surgery may be performed in more than one stage or repeated if the entire tract can't be found.

Fistulectomy with Advancement Rectal Flap

A surgeon may core out the tract and then cut a flap into the rectal wall to remove the fistula's internal opening. The flap is then stitched back down.

Seton Placement

A seton (silk string or rubber band) is used to allow the seton to slowly cut all the way through the muscle over the course of several weeks, it also help the fistula drain.

Fibrin Glue

In some cases, a fibrin glue or a plug of collagen protein is used to seal up and heal a fistula rather than cutting it open.