What Is A Fistula?
A fistula is an abnormal tunnel that forms between two organs or between an organ and the skin. Speaking of anal fistulas, it’s a tunnel that develops between the end of the bowel and the skin near the anus. This tunnel creates a passageway for pus or other fluids to drain, causing infection. These fistulas can be severely painful and uncomfortable.
What Causes Anal Fistula?
Anal fistulas are caused by an infection in the anal area that leads to an abscess. Let’s take a look at what could give rise to this situation:
- Injury in the anus.
- Inflammation in the bowel
- Anal cancer
- Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)
- Tuberculosis
In addition to these, there are some factors that put you at a higher risk of getting fistulas. For example:
- Being male
- Being over 50 years old
- Inflammation in the colon
- Chronic diarrhea
- Radiation treatment for rectal cancer
- Immunocompromised health condition
- Chronic sexually transmitted infections
- Previous anal surgeries or trauma
What Are The Symptoms Of Fistula?
If you experience the following symptoms, you may have anal fistula:
- Pain or discomfort in the anal area
- Discharge of pus, blood, or foul-smelling fluid from the anus
- Itching or burning sensations around the anus
- Swelling or redness around the anus
- A lump or abscess near the anus
- Increased pain during bowel movements
- Fever and chills
At times, you may also experience pain while urinating or difficulty controlling bowel movements. If you experience any of these symptoms, seek medical care. Remember, similar symptoms can occur due to these issues as well. So, self-diagnosis may not be fruitful.
How Is A Fistula Treated?
The sure course of treatment for fistulas is surgery. It is crucial to start treatment immediately to prevent sepsis and other life-threatening health complications. Let’s look at some treatment options.
- Ligation: In this procedure, the fistula tract is tied and drained so that the fistula can slowly heal itself back to normal.
- Fistula Plug: It involves inserting a small medical plug to block the tunnel and promote healing.
- Muscle Flap Surgery: In case of severe tunneling, a healthy muscle tissue, procured from the rectum, may be planted in the fistula to block it and let it heal.
- Ostomy and Stoma: In case of severe fistula, these two complementary procedures may help in faster healing of the fistula. In these procedures, the intestines are diverted away from the anal canal so that new abscesses cannot form.
All these procedures are supplemented with medicines that help reduce inflammation, manage pain, and prevent infection. A high-fiber diet and gentle toilet habits also play a significant role in quick and healthy recovery that can take between 2 to 5 weeks. Fistula surgeries have a success rate of over 95% and they recur in only 7% of cases.
