Anal Fissure
Did you know that about 50% of anal fissures can heal with proper medical treatment?
Anal Fissure
Anal fissure is a tear in the mucosa of the anus in its outer third, which typically causes intense pain during defecation, which may persist for several hours and is accompanied by bleeding. It is one of the most frequent anorectal pathologies, although it is often confused with hemorrhoids.
Causes
Most often the cause is constipation or diarrhea, although it can also be caused by other types of anal trauma, such as childbirth or anal sex.
Other much less frequent causes are inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis), tuberculosis, anal cancer or different sexually transmitted diseases.
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About 50% of fissures can heal by themselves or with appropriate medical treatment, which should include analgesics, stool softeners and sitz baths with warm water and creams with drugs (nitroglycerin or dilatiazem), which act as a vasodilator and sphincter relaxant, relieving pain and promoting healing of the fissure. In some cases the application of botulinum toxin may be indicated.
In cases where an adequate response to medical treatment is not obtained, surgical intervention may be indicated, which in most cases will consist of a lateral internal sphincterotomy, which is considered the most effective treatment for anal fissure.
In this intervention some fibers of the internal anal sphincter are sectioned, decreasing its pressure, which relieves pain and increases the blood flow of the mucosa, thus facilitating the healing of the fissure. This technique achieves symptomatic relief and healing of the fissure in a few weeks in 95% of cases.
Prior to the operation, the risk of incontinence must be assessed. Although the risk is generally low, it may be somewhat increased in people whose sphincter is weakened by childbirth, surgery or pre-existing health problems. Other surgical techniques and alternative medical treatments may be used in these cases.
Frequently Asked Questions
about Pilonidal Sinus
- Reddening of the skin
- Pain
- Presence of pus or blood in an opening of the skin.
- Unpleasant odor of oozing pus.
This pathology should be treated by a specialist in coloproctology, which is responsible for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the colon, rectum and anus.
As we know, the pilonidal cyst is located in the region above the intergluteal fold, an area of treatment for this specialist.
