What is anal fistula?

Anal fistula is a tunnel that leads between the anal gland and the skin outside the rectum. Fistules usually occur after the anal gland infection in which the glands are filled with liquids and pus, creating abscess. When the abscess is released and does not heal completely, the tunnel often remains and creates anal fistula. Anal fistula increases the chance of developing further infection in the anal gland and recurring abscesses can be painful.

The most common type of anal fistula is the Intersfinkteric fistula. This type of fistula begins between the muscles of the inner and the outer sphincter and ends next to the rectum. A transhinkteric fistula can start between the muscles of the sphincter or just behind the rectum. He ends his thumb or two outside the rectum and can be wrapped in the shape of "U", creating a horseshoe fistula. Suprasinkteric fistulas begin between the muscles of the sphincters and the curve up the audience. Then they dive down and end the thumb or two outside the rectum. ExtraSfickteric fistula begins at the rectum and runs down to open just before the rectum.

abscesses that are formed before anal fistulas usually cause pain and inflammation around the rectum. Patients with disorders or immune system disorders such as AIDS and cancer are more likely to develop abscesses. People with Crohn's disease, an autoimmune disorder that affects the gastrointestinal tract, is also more likely to develop abscesses and fistulas. Irritation around the rectum, fever and liquid near or around the rectum are the most common symptoms of the anal fistula after the release of the abscess.

Anal fistulas usually require surgery to heal. The surgeon cuts the tunnel open to rinse the contents and then stitch the sides of the tunnel to the surgical cut so that the fistula lay straight. Some patients are more than one surgery if the fistula is complicated, such as horseshoe.

Some therapeutic centers offer non -surgical treatment of anal fistulas in the form of fibrin adhesives noBo collagen plugs. Fibrin adhesive is made of plasma protein. Small fistulas that are not seriously infected can be sealed with glue. The inner opening is stitched closed so that the tunnel can recover.