Anal fistula. Fistula of the rectum - treatment

Fistula of the rectum or anal fistula is a channel that has emerged due to pathology. The canal is also called the fistulous course. It begins in the rectum, and ends in the fatty tissue surrounding it, or on the skin of the buttocks. This disease is chronic, has two periods - a stage of exacerbation and a stage of remission.

Types of fistula

1. Anal fistula, in relation to the intestinal cavity, refers to the appearance.

2. By the nature of the secret, which is allocated from it, it can be:

• Mucous;
• Purulent;
• Caloric.

3. Depending on the number of holes and their location, anal fistula can be of two types - full rectal fistula and incomplete.

Full fistulas of the rectum

Their inlet is located in the wall of the rectum, the output is located on the skin in the perineal zone, not far from the anus. Quite often, with this form of fistula, there are several entrances. All of them are located on the wall of the rectum. Over time, they merge into one channel. The outlet is placed on the skin.

Most often, full fistulas are curved and sinuous. In this regard, it is impossible to penetrate them using a probe. Hence the diagnosis is difficult to put. Experts assume that the full fistula is located where the infection was introduced. Complete fistulas are considered external.

Incomplete fistulas of the rectum

Incomplete fistulas are internal. In order to detect such an anal fistula, an additional examination will be required. Only in this case the diagnosis will be correctly diagnosed and treatment will be prescribed. Another feature of the incomplete fistula is that it is unstable and is a temporary variant of a complete fistula, itself appears very rarely. The cause of incomplete fistula may be:

• Rectus intestinal paraproctitis;
• Submucosal paraproctitis;
• Ischial-rectal paraproctitis.

Usually in such cases there is an independent opening of the inflamed area. A short fistula is formed, it is directed into the purulent cavity. Incomplete fistula is detected only when visiting a doctor and the appearance of some symptoms:

• The paraproctitis disease is aggravated;
• The presence of pus in the stool.

Intrasfinctory and transfectionary fistulas

The external opening of the intrasfincter fistula is located near the anus, and the inner opening - in one of the intestinal cavities. This type of fistula is easily diagnosed. For this, perianal zones are felt. In this way a fistulous course is determined, located in the subcutaneous and submucosal space. The probe is inserted easily through the inner hole.

Transsfinkterny fistula occurs quite often. The fistula is located in one of the areas of the sphincter. Fistulous courses have branching, purulent pockets are located in the cellulose, and in the tissue - scars. The higher the fistula is above the sphincter, the more ramifications occur. How does the transfectional anal fistula look like, the photo in the special literature illustrates in detail.

Extrasfinctory fistulas

This type of fistula is the result of a disease such as retrectectal paraproctitis. There is a long and tortuous course, which is often accompanied by the presence of scars, abscesses. With the appearance of the next foci of inflammation, fistulous holes are formed. Depending on the complexity of the course of the disease, extrasfincter fistulas are divided into degrees:

• At the first degree of complexity there are no scars, abscesses in the cellulose. Fistulous course of a straight line.
• At the second degree there are scars in the inner hole area, but there are no inflammatory changes.
• At the third degree, the opening of the fistula is narrow, there are no scars, but a purulent-inflammatory process develops.
• The fourth degree of complexity is characterized by a wide internal opening, there are scars, abscesses.

To identify the full picture of the disease requires ultrasonography and fistulography.

Causes of the disease

It is difficult to treat the disease if its cause is unknown. So, before you look for an answer to the question of how to cure a fistula, you should find what facilitated its appearance. The causes of fistula can be congenital and acquired.

To the acquired reasons it is possible to carry:

• Inflammation of subcutaneous fat, located near the rectum. Infection moves from the subcutaneous tissue to the rectum. Appear abscesses, they are opened, and fistula is formed.
• Operations performed in the perineum or rectum.
• Disease of the intestine.
• Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
• Inflammation of the small intestine.
• Diseases of the large intestine.
• Malignant, fast growing tumor.
• Infections: chlamydia, syphilis, tuberculosis.

Anal fistula most often appears after a natural rupture of abscess or drainage. The disease can last from several weeks to several years.

Rectovaginal fistula can develop in pathological births.
Pararectal fistula is a consequence of such a disease as acute paraproctitis.

The most dangerous fistula is the fistula of the duodenum. It is most often formed after surgical intervention in the abdominal cavity.

Symptoms of a fistula

• Appearance and aggravation of pain in the anus. Strengthening occurs at
  Emptying the rectum or with prolonged sitting.
• Fever.
• General malaise.
• Appearance of pus, sometimes with blood with a purulent smell.
• Swelling, redness in the fistula.
• A wound in the perineum.
• Temperature increase.
• Sleep disturbance.

When these symptoms appear, consult a doctor. If a diagnosis is made of "rectal fistula," treatment should be given immediately.

Diagnosis and treatment of fistula

For the diagnosis, the following methods are used:

• inspection;
• palpation;
• Rectoscopy;
• Use of a metal probe;
• Examination under anesthesia;
• Magnetic resonance imaging.

After being diagnosed, you need to start treatment. If a perianal abscess is formed, surgical treatment of the abscess and fistula should be performed. When the fistula is located in the area of the posterior part, it can not be completely removed, as incontinence may occur, but anal fistula can not be left, abscesses may occur.

Operative intervention is divided into the following types:

• Gentle excision of fistulas and their dissection.
• Setting the silicone loop.
• Imposition of mucosal patches.
• Splitting of sphincter fibers.
• Fissure dissection and setting of a special tampon.

Traditional medicine to help

Sometimes patients do not seek to get an appointment with a specialist and start using traditional treatment. Anal fistula in some cases thanks to this medicine can be completely cured.

Several recipes that will be useful:

• Mix olive oil and vodka in equal quantities. With this mixture, wipe the inflamed area several times a day. The course of treatment is several weeks.
• Take the oak bark , flaxen flowers , water pepper grass and a little pork fat. All grind and fill with melted fat. The following proportions should be observed: one cup of oak bark and grass is taken two glasses of fat. All put in the oven and warm on low heat. Blend the mixture, make cotton swabs, moisten them in the resulting solution and apply to the inflamed area. The course of treatment is three weeks.

Afterword

Remember, the sooner you contact a specialist, the more likely you will be to keep your health and avoid complications. Anal fistula is a disease with which you can not joke.