• Anal Abscess
• Anal Cancer
• Anal Fissure
• Anal Fistula
  • Symptoms
  • Investigations
  • Treatments
• Anal Incontinence
• Anal Intraepithelial Neoplasia (AIN)
• Anal Skin Tags
• Anal Warts
• Bowel Cancer
• Colonic Polyps
• Constipation
• Crohn's Disease
• Diverticular Disease
• Enterocele and sigmoidocele
• Haemorrhoids
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
• Internal rectal prolapse (intussusception)
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
• Obstructed Defaecation Syndrome
• Pilonidal Sinus
• Proctitis
• Pruritis Ani
• Rectal Prolapse
• Rectocele
• Solitary Rectal Ulcer Syndrome
• Ulcerative Colitis

Anal Fistula Treatment

An anal fistula usually requires surgical treatment in order to heal. An anal fistula may often pass through the muscles surrounding the anus. These muscles are important for maintaining continence. It is very important that when fistulae are treated this muscle is not damaged excessively so that a patient has trouble controlling their bowels.

Fistula surgery requires a general anaesthetic. There are several surgical options that can be used:

Drainage.Simple drainage involves the insertion of a drainage tube known as a seton through the fistula track. This can stay in place long term but is frequently used for a few weeks only. This allows inflammation to settle, so that curative surgery can be planned

Laying open the fistula. This involves cutting out the fistula track. It is useful for those fistulae that don’t pass through the sphincter muscle or only a small part of it.

Fistula plug.This is a new technique. It involves inserting a plug of collagen material into the fistula track. The advantage of this technique is that it is minimally invasive however it is not suitable for all fistulae. For more information on this procedure please click here.

Cutting Seton.This involves using a piece of tubing or seton which is placed through the fistula and tied firmly around the sphincter muscle. This tubing is tightened up every 2-3 weeks. Using this slow tightening technique the fistula is gradually laid open.  Sometimes three or more tightenings are required.