An anal fistula is an anomalous passageway beneath the skin that joins the buttocks’ skin to the colon’s anal canal. Anal glands that have developed an infection filled with pus (abscess) are the cause of most anal fistulas.
Anal fistula
A visible opening from the skin outside your anus to the interior is called an anal fistula. The higher part of your anus, or butthole, where your anal glands are located, is where it usually first appears. Infected glands have the potential to develop fistulas due to infection-related outflow. The term “perianal abscess” refers to this illness. (Occasionally, a perianal fistula is used interchangeably with an anal fistula. “Perianal” means to “around your anus.”)
Anal fistulas are categorized based on where they occur
Intersphincteric fistula- The tract starts extremely near the anal entrance, starting in the area between the internal and external sphincter muscles.
Transphincteric fistula- The tract starts behind the anus or in the area between the internal and external sphincter muscles. After that, it passes through the external sphincter and opens only a few inches outside the anal aperture. These can form a U-shape around the body, with horseshoe-shaped fistulas on either side of the anus.
Suprasphincteric fistula- The tract starts in the area between the muscles that form the internal and external sphincters, travels upward to a position above the puborectal muscle, crosses it, then descends between the levator ani and puborectal muscles, opening out an inch or two outside the anus.
Extrasphincteric fistula- he tract starts in the rectum or sigmoid colon, descends, goes through the muscle known as the levator ani, and ends by opening around the anus. Usually, diverticular abscesses, appendiceal abscesses, or Crohn’s disease are the causes of these fistulas.
Symptoms and Causes
Anal discomfort that is often throbbing and severe. It could be more noticeable when you sit, cough, or defecate. You may have tactile sensitivity in your butt.
Swelling and redness around your anus, which indicates inflammation. These are indications of cellulitis, an active infection beneath the skin.
Fluid oozing from the area surrounding your anus. Pus, faeces, or blood (rectal bleeding) may be present.
Less frequent symptoms consist of:
- Fever
- Urinating with pain
- Inability to hold your poop in
Anal fistulas: what causes them?
Anal gland infection is typically the site of a perianal abscess, which is the most common cause of an anal fistula. A pocket of pus that forms at the site of an infection is called an abscess. The pus must escape, and it could make a pathway for itself to do so.
Diagnosis
The majority of anal fistulas are detectable by medical professionals by physical examination, yet occasionally the external hole closes. Furthermore, your physician will look inside your anus for the fistula’s internal access.
MRI- A high-detail, non-invasive imaging test is called an MRI. This will allow medical professionals to determine how the tunnel affects your muscles and other organs and to map out its progress.
Endoscopic ultrasound- Unlike an MRI, which produces pictures similar to what it sees, an endoscopic ultrasound makes images inside the abdomen using a tiny lighted camera and a tiny ultrasonic probe.
Fistulography- Your healthcare professional will take an X-ray of your fistula after injecting dye into it, which is known as a fistulogram. The fistula’s route will be highlighted by the dye.
Treatment of Anal Fistula
Antibiotics by themselves cannot treat an treatment of anal fistula once it has developed. To heal the fistula, surgery will be required. At Treatment Range Hospital, we use laser therapy in place of surgery, which is a quick, simple process with no undesirable side effects and a fast recovery as long as hygiene precautions are followed. Watch the video to learn more about the therapy.