Information about anal fistula

Index

SNO Title1 Information on Anal Fistulas and Fissures2 Anal Fistula Treatments - Ayurvedic Treatment3 Anal Fistula - Taking care and Prevention4 Anal Fistula - Possible complications5 Anal Fistula and Technology

Information on Anal Fistulas and Fissures

Anal fistulas and fissures are a painful growth near the genitals. A fistula is an abnormal development from one cavity to another or from a hollow body cavity to the surface. The fistula can be a result of a penetrating wound like from the skin to lung, or it may be congenital like from bladder to navel or it may have formed from an ulcer or an abscess like tooth socket to sinus or appendix abscess to vagina.

When the wounds or abscesses keep getting filled by the fluids of the body cavity, it slows down and prevents healing and develops the formation of a fistula. For instance, the growth of anal fistula can start with the inflammation of the mucus lining of the rectum. As it is constantly infected by feces, the area develops abscesses; a fistula breaks out gradually on the skin near the anus. Generally, the treatment includes an operation to drain the abscess by opening the fistula channel by operating on it so that there is no chance of recurrence.

On the other hand, anal fissures are the tears in the mucus lining of the anal canal which occur due to the passage of hard stools. Fissures become very painful with bowel movements and one may bleed with the passage of stools. The anus is the ring-like sphincter or valve at the end of the rectum and it relaxes and tightens to allow a bowel movement. The rim of this anus can have a tear, which will be called anal fissure. With every bowel movement, the anus will be stretched and fissure will be reopened causing delay in healing and manifestation of more symptoms and make the fissures chronic and a considerable misery.

Anal fissures and anal fistula are often interchanged and confused. While a fissure is a tear or crack in the anal canal, fistula develops from abscesses in the same area. Fistula is more like a tunnel between the rectum and other parts of the body, like the rectum and the vagina which can be called a recto-vaginal fistula or between the anal canal and the nearby skin.

Anal fissures mostly heal if constipation is avoided. Healing can be hastened with simple measures like stool softeners and other ointments. Steroid preparations, prescription medicines and variety of analgesics may also be used. Top medical news report that the same medication used for chest pain (angina), can be used as a treatment option for anal fissures. This medication works in such a way that the

smooth muscle lining below the torn mucus layer of the anus relaxes and treating the spasm of this smooth muscle heals about 85% of the fissure. If this medication does not work, a simple outpatient surgical technique called lateral internal sphincterotomy can be used. 

Anal Fistula - Taking care and Prevention

The anal fistula has not specific cause but it there are ways to live a healthy life and prevent the condition to the largest possible extent. This is a condition where boils, pus, bleeding and other such symptoms occur near the anus. The patient often suffers pain along with discomfort. The fistulae may recur in short spans of time and require medical aid for treatment. In this abnormal condition, channels or connections are formed between the organ of body and the anal region. Body fluids, blood and pus may leave the body due to this anomaly. Infections are also possible in most cases.

Keeping in mind the basic health tips is useful in living a healthy life. To prevent the formation of an anal fistula as well as take care of the body, here are a few points that might help.

1. Enjoy a fiber rich diet. It is good to have fibers in ones meal as they aid digestion and bowel movements. The blood cholesterol is decreased and bowel integrity is maintained along with health.

2. Drink a lot of water. Water is always known to help in digestive process. 3. Use stool softeners. It is especially required for patients suffering from anal

fistula developments. This way, the stool is softened and the patient does not have to strain to pass stool.

4. It is also important to keep the affected area clean. One can use moist pads to clean the regions. This way infection can be avoided because of exudates from the fistula in ano.

5. The skin is also affected due secretions. Healthcare experts suggest that the patient can use skin creams which are made specially to create a soothing effect on the tissues.

Prevention is only possible by living healthily and remaining alert about symptoms. If you find that there is some change in your body activity or passing of bowel, it is

advisable to bring this to your doctor’s notice immediately. If you have doubts, you can also discuss it with doctors online because most experts are available on the internet platform as well. The anal fistula does not diminish or disappear without aid or treatment. The growth or specific fibers and membranes in the tunnels prevent spontaneous healing like in other cases such as external boils and acne. Sometimes surgeries may be required while other times herbal treatments may be needed. In any case, it is important to get good medical attention.

Anal Fistula Treatments - Ayurvedic Treatment

Most patients suffering from the presence of an anal fistula in their body are unaware of what it actually is. The patients only experience the symptoms like itching, pus in anal region, pain and discomfort. These symptoms are reported to the physician who then treats the individual. In simple words, the condition is also known as fistula in ano. A fistula is basically a track or tunnel like connection between different parts of the body. It is an abnormal internal connection that connects organs on the internal side to the anal region. It can have more than one external opening through the anus or rectum.

Nowadays, many medical products are available in the market for the treatment of anal fistula conditions. Medical procedures are needed for curing fistulae because they seldom heal on their own. The main reason for this is the development of fiber-tissues and payogenic membrane which restrict the possibility of self-healing. Hence, treatment options focus on the removal of these through surgery. Skin grafts are also done as an alternative method. Some doctors also use the fibrin glue to close the abnormal linkage. A method called Fistulectomy may be employed. Here, the affected region is subjected to laser beams which helping in sealing the channels.

However, the most formative medical procedures were based on ayurvedic principles. If one reads the Ayurveda medical transcripts, one will find detailed information and classification of fistulae based on type and cure. Based on severity they are classified as the vata, the Pitta & the kapha. The most noted form of treatment is the Ksharsutra treatment. In this method, a Ksharsutra is used which is a

special thread. This thread is prepared by repeatedly dipping it in different medicinal liquids. Alternatively, it may be brought in contact with a number of medical products about 15 to 20 times. All the agents are of plant origin which means that they are herbal and not systemized with chemicals. Nevertheless, these multiple coat threads are used for treatment along with specific drugs.

The anal fistula is cleansed; cut, drained and other required actions are performed using the special threads. This method is effective and useful. The chronic condition of tunneling inside the body, openings in the mucosa lining, outer tissue damage and other symptoms can be addressed by Ksharsutra methodology. The subject however is very vast and only specialized medical professionals and healthcare experts practice it.

Anal Fistula - Possible complications

An Anal fistula is a connection between the internal organs or the body and the anal channel. This is an abnormality. Basically, a fistula is not lethal or dangerous but can be very painful and hence, needs to be treated. Here, the inner epithelium or lining of the anus forms a passage with the skin near the rectum. This blockage or obstruction can be caused due to an abscission, infection, and collection of pus or other such anomalies. In medical terms, the condition is referred to as fistula-in-ano.

Symptoms often include pain and discomfort while passing stools. When an abscess is formed, there can be an accumulation of pus in the anal canal which may or may not drain out. If the opening towards the outside is hindered then the pus may perhaps accumulate and cause further infection. For such reasons, it becomes inevitable to get an anal fistula operated upon immediately. Most often, since they do not heal on their own, a surgical procedure is required.

The surgery to treat a fistula is performed under general anesthesia and takes not more than 30 minutes; unless there is a complication. The most critical risk involved is the elasticity of the sphincter muscles in the anus. The sphincter muscles are the tissues that help in contractions and relaxation around the anus so that bowel movement is possible. If these muscles are affected, then bowel incontinence may be experienced. In such a condition, the patient may not be able to control the movement of bowel. Following this, a series of specific surgeries may be required for proper functioning. When the fistula is present below the sphincter tissues, the doctor will create an incision on the skin. The lesion will be left open to allow natural

healing. Contrary to this, when the abnormality is not restricted to one area and if a branching of passages are seen above the sphincter muscles; then the region is stitched by the Seton stitch by which the infected fluid or pus will deplete out effortlessly.

Following the surgery, recurrence of the anal fistula is possible. Slight bleeding, pain and uneasiness may continue to be experienced shortly after the procedure; until complete recovery which may take a few weeks. Soon after the schedule, a normal diet and activities can be carried out. One time, absolute solutions, are not known as there is not specific cause for such a condition. Living a healthy and staying abreast with top medical news and health facts will definitely assist a healthful - free from disease - life.

Anal Fistula and Technology

Anal fistula is a common problem occuring in the genital areas. Fistulae are tunnes which form abnormally from the anus or rectum generally to the skin near the anus. It may be painful and may discharge some liquid and form abscesses which produce systemic symptoms during infection. Docturs.com/dd offers detailed information on anal fistula and latest updates about it.

Anal fistula is common among people with tuberclosis or Crohn’s disease or anal/rectal surgery, cancer or diverticulitis. Men are more prone to this disease then women. Medical videos show traditional surgery taking place for the treatment of fistula. This conventional surgical intervention is straightforward but complications exist even here. The traditional surgery procedure involves cutting a part of the anal sphincter muscle to access the tunnel and joining the internal and external openings. The complication in this surgery may be the incontinence due to loss of sphincter muscle or from partial division. These complications have led to the development of alternative options for treatment in optimizing patient care.

The new technology is performing anal fistula repair with the new minimally invasive anal fistula plug (AFP). This alternative is very different from the traditional surgery. The anal fistula plug (AFP) is a conical device made from a natural biomaterial that helps in tissue healing. The plug is placed by drawing it through the fistula tract and suturing it in place.

With this option of AFP, there is no cutting of the sphincter muscle and so the risk of incontinence is minimized. This is a simple and innovative method. When the AFP is implanted, host tissue cells and blood vessels colonize the "graft." The crux is that, the plug provides a scaffold or matrix for the patient's connective tissue growth.

There has been a good report about the AFP early clinical results which show significant improvement over conventional treatments. It is relatively better as the success rate and efficacy is higher than any other method, it is a minimally invasive procedure, no risk of post-operative incontinence due to sphincter saving procedure and suturable biomaterial has more staying power than the fibrin glue.

There is also other medical news about the treatment of complex anal fistula which is effective with loose seton is used as it reduces sepsis and incontinence, specially those patients suffering from Crohn’s disease. As the research suggests, the ‘permanent loose seton’ technique may be considered the treatment of choice in the majority of CD patients, as it is effective in preventing local sepsis in many patients over time and is associated with a low complication rate.

Docturs.com/dd is the medical vertical which offers detail information on every medical topic to spread awareness for a healthy living.

Reference:

Anal Fistula: - http://docturs.com/dd/pg/groups/11182/anal-fistula/

Top medical news, healthcare experts, medical videos, medical products: - http://docturs.com/dd/

Thank you