Does anal fistula disappear by itself? How is it treated?

Anal fistula is the name of the discomfort that seriously disturbs people and occurs in the anal area. In this disease, it is the name of the unhealthy connection formed through the inflamed channel that develops between the inside and outside of the anal canal.

Symptoms of anal fistula include yellow discharge, pus and itching around the anus. Constipation can be seen with fistula, just like in fissure. In this type of situation, the discharge of abscesses can be seen more frequently. This also leads to the formation of new tunnels. The patient thus begins to feel more discomfort. You should therefore take care not to be constipated when you have anal fistula. You should avoid foods that cause constipation.

Does anal fistula disappear by itself?

An important disease such as anal fistula does not disappear on its own. You can overcome the disease with the right treatment methods and medication by consulting a specialist doctor. Therefore, you should definitely see a specialist and do not delay your treatment.

What happens if anal fistula is not treated?

Anal fistulas cause constant discomfort when left untreated. Every time the abscess flows, the tunnel fills up again. Treatment is a very important stage for this. The more you delay the treatment, the more you will cause the tunnel to grow. In addition, since there will be a transition from simple fistula to complex fistula in this period, you will seriously extend your treatment and the process.

Apart from this, a single tunnel is formed in the anal area at first. However, as time passes, the number of tunnels increases by spreading to different points. In addition, delaying treatment can lead to cancer in advanced stages.

Anal fistula is the name of inflammatory structures that occur at the end of the bowel. The fistula, which occurs between the place located in the inner part of the anal area and the skin area, presents with complaints such as discharge and pain.

Anal fistula treatment must be done. Otherwise, it causes the emergence of other fistulas in the area. This means that the patient will suffer more pain in the future. Especially the patient may have difficulty in sitting. During defecation, bacteria can also cause deeper discomfort in the area. In addition, it should not be forgotten that it can cause formations such as cancer in the bowel area.

Anal fistulas present in many ways such as burning, pain, swelling, difficulty in sitting, pain similar to glass stinging during defecation. If you are experiencing such problems, you can consult your doctor if you think that something is wrong.

How is anal fistula diagnosed?

In order to diagnose anal fistula, the patient’s history is first listened to. Based on these findings, the specialist doctor may act with the suspicion of anal fistula. Afterwards, the doctor who performs a physical examination can detect tenderness, swelling and temperature increase in the area. However, these findings do not clearly indicate anal fistula. In addition to these, fistula detection can be made clearly after observing important factors such as pus and blood.

In some cases, it can be observed that there are also discharges that make it difficult to detect fistulas. In this case, further examination can also be performed.

Anal Fistula Treatment without Surgery

One of the biggest misconceptions for anal fistula is to expect it to disappear by itself. This is absolutely not true. Anal fistula that develops for whatever reason must be treated. Anal fistula treatment without surgery is not possible. Unfortunately, medical treatment, that is, treatment with medication, does not give results, so it is not often tried. Although you resolve the inflamed structure with a drug such as antibiotics, the inflamed structure will be seen again over time because you do not eliminate the cavity in the area. Therefore, it would be the best method to eliminate this structure that occurs in the last part of the area.

The surgery is performed with the method called surgical drainage.   Firstly, the inflammation in the cavity is drained. Then, the cavity is eliminated by burning with the device developed for this purpose. The duration of the operation varies depending on the number of cavity. In some cases, the fistula may include some parts of the sphincter muscle in the area. In this case, fistulotomy technique is applied. Thus, damage to the muscle tissue is prevented.

Anal Fistula Treatment in Istanbul

Istanbul is one of the leading cities with the widest opportunities for anal fistula treatment. Many patients from both domestic and foreign countries come to Istanbul for anal fistula treatment at any time of the year. Many health institutions (both private and public) in the city provide professional support in this regard. Not only during the treatment, but also afterwards, it is at the side of the patients in all kinds of questions and problems.

What are anal fistula treatment methods?

For anal fistula treatment, the size of the problem is first detected by the doctor. If there will be a late treatment, the specialist may follow a longer path. Antibiotic treatment is used. In this way, the increase in the number of inflamed tunnels is prevented. However, antibiotics alone may not work. Surgical methods are used for this.

In surgical methods known as fistulotomy and fistulectomy, a medical device called a catheter is used. The inflamed tunnel is drained. Then, with the help of the catheter, the entire tunnel is burned and the place where the inflammation will come is closed. Since millimetric areas are affected in this method, the rectal muscles are absolutely not damaged and the patient can continue his/her life in a very short time.

Which doctor to visit for anal fistula?

General surgery and proctology specialists are consulted for anal fistula. However, patients prefer general surgery more often. The main reason for this is that operator doctors (surgeons) can perform this procedure in case of surgery.

Can anal fistula be treated without surgery?

Many people are afraid of surgery since it affects the anal area. However, anal fistula treatment requires a surgical intervention. It is essential that the treatment is performed by an operator doctor using either local or general anaesthesia for the person to regain his/her health quickly. If it cannot be operated, the fistula, which recurs continuously, may spread to the region and cause the opening of new tracts. Laser anal fistula treatment is applied as a minimally invasive treatment method for the treatment of anal fistula.

Anal fistula is the name of abnormal tunnels seen between the anal canal and skin out of the anal area. These tunnels fill with inflammation over time and, if left untreated, cause other fistulas to appear in the area. This condition, also known as anal fistula, rectal fistula or perianal fistula in the medical world, can be cured in a short time with the right treatment method.

Patients who consult a doctor with the complaint of discharge or only inflamed discharge in the anus, usually discover that they are suffering from anal fistula discomfort after the examinations. These fistulas are usually caused by inflammation that has previously occurred in that area. Patients may occasionally come to our specialists with complaints of swelling and pain. The fistula in patients in this situation may be a little more advanced.  Patients who come to our specialist doctor with such complaints are subjected to examinations such as fistulography and MRI.

If a disease that can create a cavity in the region has been experienced before and this cavity has not closed, the foundation may be prepared for the formation of anal fistula. Because these gaps, which are not closed and not followed, become inflamed over time and anal fistula progresses.

Is fistula hazardous?

Like any physical illness, anal fistula is a condition that can become serious if not taken into account. The course of the disease starts with discharge and progresses to pain and swelling in the area when allowed to progress. However, if the doctor is not checked and treatment is not started, the number of fistulas between the anus and the intestine increases. In this respect, anal fistula is a dangerous and rapidly progressing disease.

Does the fistula close by itself?

Fistulas usually do not close spontaneously. Surgical treatment is required to close the fistula channels formed by anal abscess. When you do not take the fistula seriously, you may face very painful consequences. In this respect, we recommend that you go under the supervision of a doctor quickly without leaving your case to risk.

Does fistula cause cancer?

It is essential to treat fistulas. Because if the area stays like that continuously, it changes the structure of the cells there. This is one of the most important factors that prepare the ground for cancer. Therefore, if the fistula is ignored, it may cause serious disorders such as cancer in advanced stages. Although this period is long in clinical studies, this situation can be observed in very short periods because the physiological structures of people are different. In this context, long-term anal fistula disorders can turn itself into cancer after a while.

Anal Fistula Treatment

Anal fistula treatment is performed surgically. The specialist doctor, who enters the canal with special materials, drains the inflammation in the fistula. It does not leave the canal unattended after emptying. Because it may fill up again in the same way in the future. For this, it burns the inflamed canal and the inside of the canal and ensures that the entire canal is eliminated. Thus, anal fistula does not recur again in the future. Thus, both the fistula is finished with surgery and the factors that will recur are completely eliminated and the patient is allowed to continue his/her life.

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