Fistula Laser Treatment

Who's at risk
If you develop an anal abscess, you have about a 50% chance of developing an anal fistula. Even if your abscess drains on its own, you have about the same risk for a fistula.

Certain conditions that affect your lower digestive tract or anal area may also increase your risk. These include:

Colitis

Crohn's disease

Chronic diarrhea

Radiation treatment for rectal cancer

Diagnosis
If you have symptoms that suggest an anal fistula, your healthcare provider may refer you to a specialist who specializes in colon and rectal diseases. The specialist will ask about your symptoms and your medical history. During your physical exam, the doctor will look for a fistula opening near your anal opening. He or she may press on the area to see if it is sore and if pus comes out. Different methods may be used to help with the diagnosis, such as: 

Fistula probe. A long, thin probe is guided through the outer opening of the fistula. A special dye may be injected to find out where the fistula opens up on the inside.

Anoscope. This is a special scope used to look inside your anal canal.

Imaging studies. These may include an ultrasound, which creates an image of the anal area using sound waves. Or they may include an MRI, which makes images of the area by using special magnets and a computer.

Treatment
Once you have an anal fistula, antibiotics alone will not cure it. You will need to have surgery to cure the fistula. Surgical treatment options include:

Fistulotomy. This procedure opens up the fistula in a way that allows it to heal from the inside out. It is usually an outpatient procedure. This means you go home the same day.

Filling the fistula with a special glue or plug. This is a newer type of treatment that closes the inner opening of the fistula. The doctor then fills the fistula tunnel with a material that your body will absorb over time.

Reconstructive surgery or surgery that is done in stages. This may be an option in some cases.

Seton placement. This procedure involves placing a suture or rubber band (seton) in the fistula that is progressively tightened. It lets the fistula heal behind the seton and reduces the risk of incontinence.

ADVANCED LASER TREATMENT

Laser treatment is the ideal option if you are looking to get your fistula cured without surgery.

In a nutshell, a small laser beam is used to seal the fistula. Laser treatment for fistulas is one of the most technologically advanced treatments for fistula that involves no health risks. It’s a super-fast treatment where the patient doesn’t have to be hospitalised.

ENDOSCOPIC ABLATION TECHNIQUE

Endoscopic ablation is a great way of treating fistula without surgery. 

An endoscope, a tube with a camera on the end, is inserted into the fistula. The fistula is then sealed with the help of an electrode that passes through the endoscope.

The procedure of endoscopic ablation is quite an effective method that possess no risk to your safety and bowel incontinence.

SETON PROCEDURE

Your surgeon may recommend inserting a seton as an initial step to fistula treatment without surgery.

This procedure is used if your fistula is passing through a significant portion of the anal sphincter muscle. Seton is a piece of surgical thread left in the fistula to keep it open for several weeks.

This method helps to drain and heal the fistula while eliminating the need to cut through sphincter muscles. A loose seton will drain the fistula but not cure it. In order to cure fistula, the surgeons use tighter setons that slowly cut through the fistula.

The whole process might include several procedures, the details of which, your surgeon will be able to explain best. Your surgeon might also suggest a different method depending on his/her observations of your fistula.

THE ADVANCEMENT FLAP TECHNIQUE

Surgeons consider this method if the fistula is passing through the anal sphincter muscle. The procedure cuts and scraps out the fistula. The hole where it enters the bowel is later covered with tissue flap. The tissue flap used to cover the hole is taken from the internal parts of the rectum.

We understand that this technique involves fistula surgery, but it doesn’t involve cutting of anal sphincter muscles. Therefore, this method has no risk of bowel incontinence compared to fistulotomy.

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