How to prevent anal fistula, prevention and care should be taken seriously

Once anal fistula cannot heal on its own, it requires surgical treatment to cut open the fistula or remove it. This common anorectal disease can be prevented in time, especially by actively treating constipation and diarrhea, perianal abscesses, and keeping the anal area clean.

1. Preventive care

1. Actively prevent and treat constipation and diarrhea. During constipation, fecal matter accumulated in the rectum can easily block the anal crypts and cause acute anal cryptitis, which will eventually form perianal abscesses. In addition, dry and hard stools can easily abrade the anal crypts during defecation and cause perianal infection. Prolonged diarrhea can also stimulate inflammation of the anal crypts, and loose stools can easily enter the anal crypts and induce perianal infection. Therefore, preventing and treating constipation and diarrhea is important for preventing the formation of perianal abscess and anal fistula.

2. Treat anal cryptitis and anal papillitis promptly to prevent the formation of perianal abscess and anal fistula.

3. Timely treatment of systemic diseases that may cause perianal abscesses, such as Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and intestinal tuberculosis.

4. Taking a sitz bath after each bowel movement, washing the anus and keeping the anus clean are important for preventing perianal infections.

5. If you feel anal discomfort or burning sensation, you should immediately perform anal sitz bath and seek medical treatment in time.

2. Medication

1. Fistulotomy is suitable for simple low-position anal fistula. During the operation, a probe is used to check the entire length of the fistula, and the fistula is completely incised along the probe. The granulation tissue inside the fistula is scraped off to make the wound surface V-shaped. Fill the wound with oil gauze. After 2 to 3 days, take a sitz bath with 1:5000 PP powder or hot water every day to keep the wound clean. During the entire treatment process, attention should be paid to ensuring that the granulation tissue of the incised wound grows from the base to the superficial surface and finally heals completely. Therefore, it is very important to regularly observe the wound and change the dressing. Local application of muscle-growing ointment or growth hormone preparation dressing 2 to 3 days after surgery can accelerate wound healing.

2. Hanging thread therapy is suitable for high-position simple or complex anal fistula. This method can avoid postoperative anal incontinence caused by the rupture and contraction of the sphincter after a single incision. It is widely used clinically, easy to operate, and can be performed in outpatient clinics. Its disadvantage is the high postoperative recurrence rate, which is mainly related to the surgeon's incomplete exploration of the branches and internal opening. High-positioned complex anal fistula can be transformed into a simple anal fistula through multiple thread placements.

3. Anal fistula resection is generally suitable for low-position simple anal fistula, but in recent years many scholars have applied this method to high-position anal fistula and complex anal fistula. The method is to remove all fistulas at one time, and the wound surface is healthy normal tissue, which is smaller inside and larger outside. Superficial wounds can be sutured throughout the thickness of the wound and the stitches removed after 5 days. Most wounds can heal in one stage. Deeper wounds should be left open. When performing resection of a high anal fistula, the deep part of the external sphincter should be separated, and if it needs to be cut off, care should be taken to suture and reconstruct it.