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Many people have an anal fistula. These often develop from an anal abscess — an infected wound that drains pus from the anus. The team at Tri-City Colo-Rectal Surgery can customize a care plan to your needs. At their offices in Gilbert, Arizona, the team offers conservative and surgical treatments to promote complete healing of anal abcesses and fistulas and prevent complications. If you have pain or notice blood after bowel movements, don’t delay an evaluation. Call the office or request an appointment online today.
What is an anal abscess and fistula?
An anal fistula is a small tunnel that develops inside your anal tract connecting a gland to an external opening in your skin. The tunnels form when these mucus-making glands become clogged. Blocked glands can become infected, which may lead to an abscess. A fistula can be the result of:
- Abscess
- Trauma
- Cancer
- Crohn’s disease
- Sexually transmitted disease (STI)
A perianal abscess is the most common cause of anal fistulas. In fact, abscesses cause about 75% of fistulas in the anus. This type of abscess (a pocket of pus) often forms over an infected anal gland. Non-healing, pus-filled wounds that create a drainage channel can cause a fistula.
You may also develop a fistula if you have diverticulitis, a disease that causes small, inflamed pouches to form in your intestines. These pouches can also become infected and lead to an abscess and the development of a fistula.
What are the symptoms of an anal abscess and fistula?
One of the most common symptoms of an anal fistula is persistent pain and swelling around the anus. You may also experience symptoms like:
- Anal pain, swelling, or redness
- Bleeding
- Anal abscess
- Foul-smelling anal drainage of blood, pus, or feces
- Pain with bowel movements
- Difficulty holding in bowel movements
- Pain with urination
As a result of the infection, you may also develop a fever, chills, and general fatigue.
How are an anal abscess and fistula diagnosed?
During your evaluation for an anal fistula and abscess, your Tri-City Colo-Rectal Surgery provider reviews your medical history and examines your anus to identify visible openings in the skin around the anus and signs of drainage.
To confirm the depth and direction of the fistula or determine if you have fistulas that haven’t reached the surface of your skin, your provider may request additional diagnostic tests like ultrasound, MRI, or an anoscopy. An anoscopy is a minimally invasive procedure where your Tri-City Colo-Rectal Surgery provider inserts a scope into your anus and rectum that sends real-time images of your internal structures to an external monitor.
If your provider suspects the fistula results from an underlying lower digestive tract disorder, they may recommend other testing, such as a colonoscopy, to diagnose conditions like Crohn’s disease.
How is an anal abscess and fistula treated?
Treating an anal abscess involves draining pus, while an anal fistula typically requires surgery.
About half of people with anal abscesses develop a fistula. The team at Tri-City Colo-Rectal Surgery specializes in minimally invasive surgical techniques to eliminate the fistula and protect the health of your anal sphincter muscle. If damage to this muscle occurs, it can result in bowel incontinence.
The team at Tri-City Colo-Rectal Surgery performs a fistulotomy, a procedure to remove skin and muscle around the tunnel. In complex fistulas, your surgeon may also need to place a drain.
If you have a very complex anorectal or rectovaginal fistula, your provider can use surgical techniques to remove the tunnel and prevent additional health complications.
Don’t ignore the symptoms of an anal fistula. Schedule a diagnostic consultation with Tri-City Colo-Rectal Surgery by calling the office or requesting an appointment online today.