Does anal fistula require immediate surgery?

Anal fistula is a common anorectal disease. It is very harmful to people's daily life and health. In fact, the most common cause of anal fistula is perianal abscess. The earlier the anal fistula is treated, the easier it is to control the condition. Once you find yourself suffering from anal fistula, early treatment is very important. If you delay treatment for a long time, it will only lead to worsening of the condition. Is surgery necessary for the treatment of anal fistula?

Does anal fistula require immediate surgery?

There are actually two main types of anal fistula treatment: medical treatment and surgical treatment.

When conducting drug treatment, it is important to note that anal fistulas also have intermittent periods and attack periods. When there are no symptoms during the intermittent period, no medication is needed. However, during the attack period, patients will have symptoms such as redness, swelling, pain, and pus discharge. When surgery cannot be performed immediately, drug treatment can be used to relieve the symptoms.

Another common treatment for anal fistula is surgery.

The most classic and mainstream method of surgical treatment is anal fistula incision, which is used in more than 90% of low-position anal fistula treatments.

In addition, surgical treatment also includes incision and drainage, catheter or hanging wire drainage, fistula removal, main lesion resection and branch duct placement, etc.

For specific treatment methods, patients need to undergo formal examinations, follow the doctor's advice, and choose the surgery that is most suitable for them.

Common complications of anal fistula

1. Anorectal stenosis

Because the anus is often subjected to repeated inflammatory stimulation, scar contracture is prone to occur, which causes the anus, rectal cavity, and anal canal to become narrower, so that the stool becomes thinner and flatter, and the patient has difficulty defecating, and may even have intestinal obstruction. For example, the patient will experience abdominal distension, nausea, vomiting, etc.

During clinical examination, the patient's anal canal or rectum will have obvious scars, making it difficult for the doctor to perform a digital examination.

In addition, some patients have scar bulges at the end of the rectum, which can easily be misdiagnosed as rectal cancer during physical examinations, thus hindering doctors' diagnosis and treatment.

Some patients do not undergo regular examinations, thinking that they suffer from habitual constipation. They take a lot of constipation products but still see no effect, and instead damage their bodies.

2. Incomplete anal incontinence

When anal fistula occurs repeatedly, the muscles and soft tissues around the anal canal and rectum will be infected over a large area, a large amount of connective tissue will proliferate and harden, the elasticity around the anus will disappear, and the closing function of the anus will be affected. Patients sometimes have difficulty controlling loose stools, leading to incomplete anal incontinence.

3. Anal fistula cancer

This should be the most worrying symptom for patients with anal fistula.

A large amount of research and data has shown that people who have anal fistula for more than ten years have a higher chance of developing cancer, which may be related to repeated and long-term inflammatory stimulation.

When the lymphatic structure in the local area is destroyed and the immunity is reduced, the fistula tissue will gradually become cancerous. The main manifestation of cancer is the appearance of sticky secretions at the outer opening of the anal fistula. After the scar tissue in the fistula is cut open, it is relatively hard and easy to bleed.

4. Chronic anal eczema

Anal fistula is characterized by recurrent attacks, so secretions often overflow from the fistula, and the perianal area will be repeatedly irritated for a long time, causing chronic skin eczema, and the patient will experience unbearable itching.