Plan Your Surgery

Eye Views: 6,924

Long term Outlook of Untreated Perianal Fistulas

An anal fistula is a small tunnel that connects an infected gland inside the anus to an opening on the skin around the anus.

Long term Outlook of Untreated Perianal Fistulas

Social share:

Linkedin icon Whatsapp icon
Book Your FREE Consultation Now
Arrow Icon
Arrow Icon

Dedicated Support at Every Step!

Our Doctors are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to help you!

Hero Action

Introduction 

An anal fistula is a small tunnel that connects an infected gland inside the anus to an opening on the skin around the anus.

The anus is the external opening through which feces are expelled from the body. Just inside the anus are a number of small glands that occasionally get clogged and can become infected, leading to an abscess. Quite often, these abscesses may develop into a fistula.

We take care of you
Get Your Surgery Done with
No Cost EMI, Hassle-free Insurance Approval

Causes

It is not entirely clear what causes all fistulas. They often arise from an abscess in an infected anal gland. Other times, fistulas occur after the abscess has already been drained

Anal fistulas are also associated with other conditions that can lead to their formation. Crohn’s disease is a common one. Tuberculosis and diverticulitis can also result in fistulas.

Radiation therapy, too, can lead to anal fistulas.

Treatment

Surgery is almost always necessary to cure an anal fistula. The goal of the surgery is a balance between getting rid of the fistula while protecting the anal sphincter muscles, which could cause incontinence if damaged.

Treatment options for anal fistula:

  1. Fistulotomy
  2. Seton placement and surgery
  3. Laser fistula treatment
  4. LIFT procedure (Ligation of Intersphincteric Fistula Tract)
  5. VAAFT procedure (Video-assisted Anal Fistula Treatment)

Also Read- Is Recurrent Fistula Curable?

Pristyncare App
Download app to get more features for free
Check Symptoms
Cowin Certificate
Period Tracker
Dental Aligners
Google Play App Store

Consequences and Outlook of an Untreated Perianal Fistula

An untreated fistula may cause complications such as drainage, sepsis, perforation and peritonitis Though rarely life-threatening, fistulas can trigger serious complications.

Fecal Incontinence: Chronic active or untreated perianal fistulas may lead to fecal incontinence. 

Fistula drainage and abscess: Fistulas carry on discharging foul-smelling fluid and cause more painful abscesses.

Sepsis: Sepsis is a life-threatening illness that results from an uncontrolled bacterial infection that spreads throughout the body. 

Peritonitis: Intestinal fistula may cause inflammation AND infection of the peritoneum 

Untreated peri-anal fistulas can also turn from simple fistulas to complex fistulas with regards to-

  • Increase in the size of abscess
  • Increase in the length of the tract
  • Increase in the number of tracts
  • Simple straight tracts getting complex
  • Abscess extending deeper and causing generalised infection – Failure to correct an anal fistula generally leads to persistent drainage, recurrent peri rectal abscesses and gradual fibrosis of the anal sphincter
  • High chances of fecal incontinence and destruction of the sphincter- Untreated fistulas can develop secondary openings which will make the surgery more complicated and can lead to damage to the sphincter which may cause incontinence of stool and gas
  • Small chances of turning malignant over the years

The simpler the tract, the easier and less risky the surgery. The longer you go without treatment, the more likely that that tract can become more complex and more difficult to safely treat.

If you are wondering about the treatment of fistula without surgery, then make it clear that a fistula does not heal on its own

If you observe signs and symptoms of a fistula at once, speak to your doctor. 

Understand your treatment options and ask the doctor about the nice way to treat anal fistula. Treatment might also be less complicated than you assume and can be better than letting it go untreated.

Also Read-

How to Cure Fistula Permanently? 

Other Articles
Kshar Sutra Treatment For Piles, Fissure and Fistula

Kshar Sutra Treatment For Piles, Fissure and Fistula

7 months ago

PF2-Cure: Ayurvedic Medicine for Bleeding Piles

PF2-Cure: Ayurvedic Medicine for Bleeding Piles

7 months ago

Home Remedies To Cure Fistula

Home Remedies To Cure Fistula

7 months ago

Open App