An anal fistula is a relatively common type of anorectal disease, but it is also one of the more complex types. It often causes patients to experience itching, pus discharge, pain, and difficulty in defecation, greatly affecting their normal life. Many patients admit that anal fistulas are difficult to cure and tend to recur. Professor Peng from the Yangzhou Armed Police Hospital's Anorectal Center points out: Anal fistulas are not so easy to recur; during treatment, as long as attention is paid to its core aspects, the anal fistula will heal and will not recur again. What is the core of treating anal fistulas? Let's take a look with the experts.
Core One of Treating Anal Fistulas: Find All Internal Openings
Incomplete surgical treatment of anal fistulas is a common complaint among many patients regarding anal fistula surgery. Nowadays, many patients undergoing anal fistula surgery often receive incomplete treatment, not only causing great pain but also making the condition worse. Why does anal fistula treatment result in such symptoms? Professor Peng from the Armed Police Hospital in Nanjing explains that the main reason for the difficulty in curing anal fistulas through surgery lies in the doctor's inability to find all internal openings.
The internal opening of an anal fistula is the entry point of the initial infection that forms the fistula, being the origin of the disease. Therefore, every anal fistula has its internal opening. Additionally, the long-term non-healing of the fistula fully proves the existence of a diseased internal opening.
In general, the vast majority of internal openings are located within the anal sinuses and their surrounding areas, concentrated on both sides of the posterior midline of the anal canal. The internal opening can be at any part of the lower rectum or anal canal, but most are at the level where the internal and external sphincter muscles connect. Some have two internal openings, one in the anal canal and one in the rectum. In clinical practice, if the internal opening is in the lower part of the rectum, it indicates a complex fistula, making the surgical operation more difficult; if there are two internal openings on the same plane, it indicates the presence of two fistulas, each with an internal opening leading into the anal canal. Generally, the internal opening is small and round, and near the dentate line, a hardened depression can be felt; some internal openings are larger and irregularly shaped; those with larger internal openings are mostly tuberculous anal fistulas.
Handling the internal opening of an anal fistula is the key to treatment. If the internal opening cannot be found during surgery or is improperly handled, the fistula cannot be completely cured. Even if the wound temporarily heals, since the entry still exists, it is still prone to recurrence when infected, forming an anal fistula. Therefore, before surgery, it is essential to carefully examine the internal opening of the anal fistula and completely remove or incise it to thoroughly cure the anal fistula.
Core Two of Treating Anal Fistulas: Selecting the Right Scientific Treatment Method
For anal fistula surgery, many patients often seek treatment at small clinics or minor departments without realizing that these places lack adequate medical equipment and technology, which often exacerbates the progression of the disease.
Currently, for the treatment of anal fistulas, the Yangzhou Armed Police Hospital adopts the minimally invasive therapy recommended by the Ministry of Health. With the help of advanced probes and hydrogen peroxide irrigation, all internal openings can be accurately identified, effectively avoiding missed diagnoses and treatments. During treatment, instead of completely opening the fistula as in traditional surgery, a minimally invasive small incision is used. Only the main lesion is incised, and oral drainage is performed. The internal and external openings are treated separately, with partial incisions and partial preservation. This transforms complexity into simplicity, treating the disease while preserving anal function. The surgical wound is reduced by at least two-thirds, minimizing damage to the body.
Minimally invasive surgery for treating anal fistulas is not only thorough and minimally invasive but also ensures no pain before or after treatment, rapid recovery, and does not interfere with normal life and work.
Various Harmful Effects of Untreated Anal Fistulas:
1. Untreated anal fistulas cause pus and water discharge, contaminating underwear, leading to bacterial growth, which can trigger other anorectal diseases such as anal eczema and anal itching;
2. Over time, the fistula gradually increases, forming a high-level complex anal fistula that is difficult to treat, potentially leading to complications like fecal incontinence;
3. Long-term untreated anal fistulas significantly impact the patient's life, with pus and feces contaminating underwear, unpleasant odors [constantly following], causing inconvenience to the patient's work and life. More seriously, it may even induce anal fistula changes!
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