Simple anal fistula surgery

An anal fistula is a small abnormal channel connecting the inside of the anal canal to the skin around the anus. It usually follows an anal abscess: a small gland in the anus became infected and the infection tracked its way to the skin. A fistula shows up as a discharge of pus or fluid, and as flare-ups of inflammation or abscesses that keep coming back. A fistula is called simple when its tract is superficial and crosses only a small part of the anal muscle (sphincter). In this case, the standard treatment is fistulotomy, or laying open: the surgeon opens the tract along its whole length, turning it into an open wound that heals gradually from the bottom up. A fistula does not heal on its own and antibiotics alone are not enough: treatment is surgical. It prevents recurrent abscesses and the development of new, more complex tracts. At Clinique Pasteur Tunis, the procedure is performed in the operating theatre, often as day surgery or with one night in hospital. Wound care is organised and explained before discharge.