An anal fistulectomy is a surgical procedure used to treat anal fistulas. An anal fistula is a condition that occurs when an abnormal channel opens up from the anus or rectum. Common symptoms of an anal fistula include:
- Pain in the anus or rectum
- Irritation of the skin around the anus and rectum
- Swelling, redness, or tenderness around the anus and rectum
- Pus or blood being discharged
- Pain during bowel movements
In some patients, the discharge associated with an anal fissure is persistent. Treating an anal fistula almost always involves surgery. Anal fistulectomy is one of many possible treatments for an anal fistula. To learn more about anal fistulas and other treatment options, contact the Fissure and Fistula Center of Excellence today. Our experts are standing by to help you get the treatment you need. Call 888.512.2312.
Treatment for Anal Fistulas
A variety of surgical options exist to treat anal fistulas. Some of the most common include:
- Fistulectomy
- Fistulotomy
- The LIFT Procedure
- An Endorectal Advancement Flap
- A Fistula Plug
Anal fistulectomy is an operative procedure during which the fistula is completely excised from the body. Fistulectomy is used to remove a fistula that has resulted from a perianal abscess. It is done an outpatient basis. This means that patients will go home on the same day as the surgery.
During an anal fistulectomy the surgeon will remove the external opening of the fistula, the tract of the fistula, and internal opening of the fistula. The amount of the anal sphincter muscle that is cut out depends on the location of the internal opening of the fistula. Once the fistula has been excised it is left open to heal. In some cases, a complicated fistula may take more than one surgery to heal.
Read on about anal fistulotomy.
