An anal fistuladevelops when there is a connection between the inner lining of the anus and the skin on the exterior of the anus. At the very end of the digestive system, at a muscular hole called the anus, feces are expelled from the body. An infection in the anal gland is usually the source of an anal fistula. Abscess formation due to infection; may drain naturally or be drained surgically via skin adjacent to anus. An infected anal canal or gland may drain down this drainage tunnel, which leads to an opening in the skin surrounding the anus. An anal fistula may only be repaired by surgical intervention. Surgical proceduresaren't always necessary. When the anal canal, which is the last part of the digestive tract, connects to the skin around the anus, a tiny channel is formed; this is known as an anal fistula. One's anus is the external orifice via which waste products are expelled from the body.
Infected anal glands are the most common cause of an anal fistula (abscess). Your fistula's conclusion may seem as a hole in the skin around your anus. Pain and discomfort may result from bleeding and discharge during bowel movements.
A painful accumulation of pus, an anal abscess often occurs after an infection of a gland inside the anus, leading to an anal fistula. Sometimes an anal fistula develops when an anal abscess ruptures because the infectious fluid wasn't evacuated completely.
In most cases, an anal fistula will not heal on its own, despite the fact that it might produce unpleasant symptoms including pain and skin irritation.
Among the symptoms of an anal fistula are:
- Inflammationof the skin surrounding the anus
- A continuous, throbbing ache that may be worse by sitting, moving, defecating, or coughing.
- Offensive discharge around the anus
- Expelling pus or blood when you defecate
- If you also have an abscess, you will have anus enlargement, redness, and a fever.
- In rare circumstances, there is trouble regulating bowel motions (bowel incontinence).
The end of the fistula may be apparent as a hole in the skin close to your anus, but this may be difficult for you to detect.
An anal fistula may nearly always be repaired surgically. A specialist in colon and rectal surgery will do the procedure. The surgeon must strike a delicate balance between eliminating the fistula and avoiding injury to the anal sphincter muscles, which might lead to incontinence if not properly cared for.
When treating a fistula, a fistulotomy is performed if there is no or little involvement of the sphincter muscle. In this technique, the tunnel is opened up by cutting through the skin and muscle above it, creating a groove instead. So, the fistula tract may repair starting from the bottom.
A seton, a specialized drain that must be left in place for at least 6 weeks, may be placed by the surgeon in the event of a more complicated fistula. Almost often, a second procedure follows the insertion of a seton:
Surgical procedures such as a fistulotomy, an advancement flap surgery (in which a flap of tissue is removed from the rectum and used to cover the fistula, much like a trap door), or both may be used to treat fistulas.
A lifting technique (the skin above the fistula is opened up, the sphincter muscles are spread, and the fistula is tied off).
Injecting stem cells directly into fistulas caused by Crohn's disease is a promising new therapyoption. Before your colorectal surgery, your doctor will go through all of your available alternatives with you. Outpatient fistula surgery allows the patient to recover in the comfort of home rather of an institution. Large or deep fistula tunnels may need a post-operative hospital stay for the patient. Surgical removal of a fistula may need many procedures in certain cases.
Natural things, such as plants, minerals, and animals, are used to make homeopathic treatments. They are so diluted that they are safe to use and have no negative side effects.
Individualized homeopathic therapy for fistulas relies on the unique peculiarities of the patient's situation. Based on the patient's symptoms, medical history, and other considerations, the homeopathic physician will determine the best suitable remedy. Typically, homeopathic treatments are slow and progressive. It might take months or even years to see benefits. However, homeopathic medicine is often effective in the treatment of fistulas when other treatments have failed.
Homeopathy focuses largely on infection management, therefore preventing the formation and progression of abscesses. Then, focus on creating new textiles with less stretch. When the tissues are recovered, the fistula will permanently shut and the opening will close.
By boosting resistance, homeopathy may stop the propensity toward abscess development and suppuration. Therefore, it may prevent healing obstacles by enabling the healing process to occur freely and unimpeded.
Also, to cure the fistula, it is necessary to first cease the flow of fluid, since the draining fluid functions as a layer of separation that inhibits healing. This requires stopping the propensity toward fluid accumulation and suppuration. Homeopathy does this without the need of surgical procedures.
If the flow is halted, the route shrinks and dries up spontaneously, allowing for more precise repair. A competent homeopath should be consulted for consultation and diagnosis before taking any medication.
Fistulas may be caused by any number of factors, including trauma, surgery, infection, and inflammation. Inflammation in the intestines, as seen in Crohn disease, is an immunological reaction to an infection. Damage to the intestinal lining may lead to the development of fistulas, which are pathways via which infection can spread.
Infections that begin in the anal gland are the leading cause of an anal fistula. The infection causes an abscess, which either drains on its own or is drained surgically via the skin adjacent to the anus. Along this drainage route, a fistula develops, which is a tunnel under the skin.
Fistula tracts need treatment, since they cannot heal on their own. If the fistula is left untreated for an extended length of time, the fistula tract may develop malignancy. Most fistulas may be easily treated. Either the tract or fistula may be opened, or the tract and its associated pocket are entirely removed.
A fistula links an infected cavity in the anus, to a hole on the skin around the anus. The treatment of an anal fistula varies on its location, severity, and underlying etiology.
The objectives are to thoroughly heal the anal fistula to avoid recurrence and to safeguard the sphincter muscles. This muscular damage might result in fecal incontinence. Although surgery is often necessary, nonsurgical therapies may sometimes be a possibility.