Anal Fistula
Colon and Rectal Surgeon located in Sacramento and Roseville, CA
An infection in your anal glands increases your risk of a painful anal fistula. At Sacramento Colon and Rectal Surgery Medical Group, the experienced physicians specialize in the surgical treatment of anal fistulas that cause pain or other symptoms. The providers can also create treatment plans to prevent future abscesses and fistulas. Call the office in Sacramento or Roseville, California, to schedule a visit or book an appointment online today.
An anal fistula is a tunnel that forms between the inside of your anus and the surrounding external skin.
Often, an anal fistula develops due to an infection in the anal gland. The infection causes an anal abscess that drains pus from the skin. The drainage tunnel can remain open and connect the anal gland or anal canal to a hole in the skin outside the anus.
You may also be prone to anal fistulas if you have Crohn’s disease or another inflammatory digestive condition.
Sacramento Colon and Rectal Surgery Medical Group provides personalized medical care for anal fistulas, including diagnostic evaluations and treatment services.
You should schedule a diagnostic evaluation at Sacramento Colon and Rectal Surgery Medical Group if you have symptoms of an anal fistula like:
There may also be a visible opening on the skin around the anus.
Your Sacramento Colon and Rectal Surgery Medical Group provider evaluates your symptoms and examines your anus. They may request an endoscopic ultrasound, colonoscopy, or another diagnostic test to identify the internal location of the tunnel.
Based on the results of your exam and tests, your doctor creates a treatment plan to repair the fistula and relieve your symptoms.
Your treatment plan for an anal fistula generally involves surgery to prevent the tunnel from recurring. During a fistulotomy, your surgeon cuts the internal opening of the fistula and cleans away infected fluids and tissue. They flatten the tunnel and hold the skin in place with stitches.
If you have an active anal abscess, your surgeon can drain it by making an incision in your skin. They prescribe antibiotics to clear the infection.
In cases where the fistula is deep, your surgeon may need to remove part of the tunnel, which might involve removing some of your sphincter muscle. If you have a complex anal fistula, your provider can discuss your options for more invasive surgery.
Call the Sacramento Colon and Rectal Surgery Medical Group office near you to schedule a diagnostic evaluation for symptoms of an anal fistula, or book an appointment online today.