Anal Fistula Treatment - Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis
Prompt treatment for anal fistula is vital as it does not heal on its own. At Pristyn Care, you can get treatment for anal fistula from specialized doctors with facilities like advanced laser treatments, medical care coordinators, and post-surgery care
What is Anal Fistula?
Anal fistula or fistula-in-ano is an anorectal condition where an abnormal tunnel forms between the anal canal and the perianal skin. At Pristyn Care, we provide minimally invasive, USFDA-approved laser surgery to help treat anal fistulas. Laser surgery reduces pain and discomfort during recovery, and the hospitalization period is shorter. As a result, the patient can recover faster and return to daily activities sooner. In addition, the advantage of advanced laser surgery is that it causes minimal scarring at the surgery site. Pristyn Care proctologists are specialized surgeons with over 8-10 years of experience diagnosing diseases like anal fistula and have high success rates for laser anal fistula surgery.
What Happens During Anal Fistula Laser Surgery?
Anal Fistula Treatment
Anal fistulas almost always need surgical intervention as they do not heal on their own. The most effective course of action to treat anal fistulas is laser surgery. It is performed under general or local anesthesia. Once the anesthesia takes effect, the surgeon inserts a laser probe into the opening of the fistula and activates it, thereby ablating the affected tissues. Laser surgery for fistula is done on an outpatient basis, which means you’ll be discharged the same day unless advised by your doctor.
Anal Fistula Diagnosis
Pristyn Care proctologists diagnose an anal fistula with a physical examination. They look for an external opening of the fistula, which is characterized by a foul-smelling discharge. The doctor may also order diagnostic tests like Anoscopy or colonoscopy to determine the extent of the fistula. An MRI or ultrasound may be performed to diagnose the fistula correctly.
How to Prepare For Laser Anal Fistula Surgery?
You may need to take a few precautions before your laser surgery as it helps your surgery go over smoothly and aids in post-surgery recovery.
Inform your doctor in advance if you have any allergies (to specific medications and otherwise) and if you take medications for pre-existing conditions.
Avoid smoking and drinking alcohol in the days leading up to the surgery.
Eat a light meal on the day of the surgery. Avoid heavy foods that are high in fats and carbs.
How is the Recovery After Anal Fistula Surgery?
The recovery process from anal fistula laser surgery is relatively straightforward. However, it is recommended that you follow all the instructions given by the doctor for a smooth post-surgery recovery. In addition, keep in mind the following:
Avoid lifting heavy objects as this will put pressure on the surgical wound.
Do not strain while passing stool.
Consume a high fiber diet and avoid oily and spicy food to ensure regular bowel movements.
Use a stool softener to aid in smooth bowel movement (only after consulting the doctor).
Stay hydrated and ensure that you drink 8-10 glasses of water every day.
What is the Types of Anal Fistula Treatment?
There are 4 different types of anal fistulas
Inter-sphincteric
the fistula tract is between the internal and external sphincter muscles, and the opening of the fistula is very close to the anal opening.
Trans-sphincteric
the fistula tract goes through the internal and external anal sphincters and opens an inch away from the anal opening.
Supra-sphincteric
the fistula tract begins in the space between the sphincters, turns upwards toward the puborectal muscle, crosses it, and then extends downwards and opens 1-2 inches outside the anus.
Extra-sphincteric
this fistula tract begins at the rectum and extends downwards to the perianal skin. Diverticulitis or Crohn’s disease commonly causes these types of fistulas.
Benefits of Laser Surgery For Anal Fistula Treatment
The following are the benefits of laser surgery for anal fistula treatment.
Minimal Bleeding & Pain: There is minimal blood loss during laser surgery and reduced pain post-surgery since the laser only targets a specific area.
Improved Precision: Laser surgery imparts precision by targeting smaller areas without damaging the surrounding tissues.
Day Care Surgery: Anal fistula laser surgery is a day care surgery, i.e., you will be discharged the same day unless the doctor deems otherwise.
Shorter Recovery Time: Since it is a minimally invasive procedure, the recovery time is much lesser.
What Happens if Anal Fistula is not Treated on Time?
If you’re dealing with an anal fistula, it is advised that you must visit a proctologist and seek treatment as soon as possible. While home remedies may help manage symptoms, surgery is the only way to heal an anal fistula. In addition, an untreated fistula can give rise to complications for a patient.
May turn cancerous: Research has shown that an untreated anal fistula is more likely to develop cancer in the tract.
Extension of fistula: An unhealed fistula tract will extend and cause increased damage to more anal and rectal areas.
Fistula drainage: Untreated fistulas present with foul-smelling pus discharge.
Incontinence: A chronic or untreated fistula may lead to fecal incontinence due to damaged sphincter muscles.
Sepsis: Untreated fistulas may cause sepsis, a body’s extreme response to prolonged infection.
This is the headingCase Study
Note: Patient details changed for privacy
Aman from New Delhi noticed a pimple-like boil on his leg about a year ago. After consulting a doctor, he took a course of antibiotics which healed the pimple, but it returned after 2-3 months. After that, Aman went through the same cycle several times, but the boil kept recurring after each course of medications. Finally, when his problem became severe, he was told he was suffering from an anal fistula. He also decided to consult homeopathic and ayurvedic doctors but was denied surgical intervention in a few places. Moreover, doctors told Aman that open surgery would need 2-3 months of rest.
That’s when he approached Pristyn Care.
His surgeon Dr. Vaibhav guided him through his consultation and suggested laser surgery. He told Aman that he would undergo less pain with the laser anal fistula surgery and could return to work quickly.
Pristyn Care provided free pick-up and drop cab services on the day of his surgery and took care of Aman’s documentation and provided assistance in insurance approval. As a result, he felt at ease and didn’t need to run around to get everything done. He had a smooth surgery with no complications and was discharged on the same day. Aman was impressed with the prompt treatment.
Aman fully recovered after his surgery, and his condition has not since recurred. Throughout his time with Pristyn Care, he felt supported and had a great experience overall. He recommends Dr. Vaibhav and Pristyn Care’s facilities to anyone suffering from fistulas like him.
What is Cost of Anal Fistula Surgery in India?
Anal Fistula surgery cost can be different for each individual. On average, getting laser surgery for Anal Fistula will cost you anywhere between Rs. 35,000 to Rs. 60,000. The actual cost of surgery is calculated, keeping several factors in mind. These factors can cause the actual cost to change for each individual. Listed below are some factors that can cause a variation in the cost of laser fistula surgery:
Preference of treatment city and hospital
Consultation fees of the proctologist
The severity of the condition
Cost of lab tests before the surgery
Anesthesia changes
Fees of the anesthetists
Charges for postoperative care- medicines, nursing, etc.
In most cases, fistula surgery is covered under health insurance as it is a symptomatic condition. It’s advised to talk to the insurance providers to learn about the terms and conditions of the policy.