Anorectal disorders – laser surgery or home remedies?

If you often experience pain while passing stool, you could be suffering form fissure anal fistula, fissure, piles or fistula. These are conditions that affect your anal area and rectum. People usually assume that the three conditions are similar, seeing as they share in common certain symptoms. However, it is important to note that their differ in terms of their causes, signs and symptoms manifested, and mode of treatment. Piles, fissure and fistula can be treated by administering various home remedies, such as:

• Increased intake of fiber-rich foods
• Use of sitz baths
• Stool softeners
• Increased intake of daily floods and in particular, water

Your healthcare provider may also recommend treatment with medication and conventional surgeries to supplement such home remixes. In the event that these modes of treatment have failed, you may have to undergo a surgical procedure. While we have various surgical procedures to treat piles, fissures and fistulas, the use of laser surgery has gained increased prominence in recent years. This is because it is simple to administer, is characterized by high rates of success and low recurrence. In choosing whether to go for home remedies or laser surgery for the treatment of piles, fissures and fistulas, your healthcare practitioner will be interested in a treatment that is effective, has fewer side effects and complications. Of course, your input in such a decision is of paramount importance.   

Anal fissures

An anal fissure is a rip or tear on the mucous membrane adjacent to your anus. Such tearing may occur due to chronic constipation. In such a case, you have difficulties while passing stool. The fissure may also occur when your sphincter muscles (which controls the opening and closing of our anal canal) experiences reduced blood flow. Inflammatory bowel syndrome (IBS) conditions such as Crohn’s disease could also trigger the development of anal fissures.  

Anal piles

This is a condition where there has been an inflammation of the major veins located in your anal tract. The swelling may be induced by various conditions, such as obesity, lifting of heavy weight and straining while having a bowel movement. Piles can be internal or external. External piles are localized in the region around the anal skin, while internal hemorrhoids are found in the lower rectum. 

Anal fistulas

An anal fistula refers to an abnormal tunnel that forms beneath the think skins surrounding your anus and your anal canal. An infection to this region causes an abscess (or the collection of pus). When the accumulated pus leaks out and there is poor drainage of it, this could result in the deformation of a fistula. 

What are the common symptoms of fissures anal fissures, fistulas and piles?

While fissures, fistula and piles are in themselves distinct ailments, they nonetheless, manifest in similar symptoms. Some of the symptoms that are common in all these three conditions are:

• An inflammation or swelling around the anus
• Bleeding while having a bowel movement
• In case of a fistula, you are likely to continually feel wet around your anal region, as a result of pus discharge

It is often difficult to distinguish the symptoms for these ailments. In case you notice any of these signs, it is important that you seek immediate medical attention from your healthcare provider.

What are some of the home remedies available for anal fissures, fistula and piles?

There are various home remedies that you can use to treat uncomplicated symptoms of anal fissures, fistula and piles at home. These home remedies also aid in faster healing of the ailments. They include:

Sitz baths

This entails sitting in a warm bath for between 15 and 20 minutes. The goal is to relive the pain associated with fissure, piles and fistula. Most drugstores stock sitz baths. You might also consider adding Epsom salts in your sitz bath, among other additives. However, always make sure that such additives consult with your physicians for recommendations of such additives. Make sure that your sitz bath is thoroughly clean before use. Do not also prolong your stay in the sitz bath.

Fiber-rich diet

A rich diet rich in fiber is also recommended for improving the symptoms caused by piles, fistulas and fissures at home. This is because dietary fiber helps to prevent constipation. It also helps to correct against diarrhea. There is less straining involved while passing a soft stool, implying less trauma and irritation to the anal region and rectum. 

Some of the high-fiber foods that should might consider eating are lentils, wheat bran flakes, fruits, vegetables, brown rice, and pumpkin seeds. 

If you are dehydrated, you are more likely to develop constipation. An increased intake of water assists with bowel movement seeing as it keeps the stool softer. Aim to drink 6-8 glasses of water every day. Foods such fruits such as melons, pineapples and oranges are also high in water content. Other foods like broccoli, cabbage and cucumber also have high water content. They can therefore contribute greatly towards achieving your daily target of water intake. 

Increased physical activity

Aim to achieve at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity. This is important in terms of ensuring improved blood flow to the various body parts, including the anal region. Regular exercise also promotes increased regular bowel movements. Regular exercise is thus an effective means of promoting healing of anal piles, fistula, and fissure. 

Make sure you are not straining while passing stool

When you strain while having a bowel movement, there is a resultant buildup of pressure in your anal region and rectum. Consequently, this can cause a tear or trigger swelling of anal tract veins. A mild laxative could help in softening your bowel movement. One such laxative is coconut oil. It aids in easy passage of stool, while also minimizing the swelling of your anal region. 

Should you develop constipation, the following steps can help to alleviate the situation:

• Lubricate your anal canal with petroleum jelly before passing stool
• Do not delay the urge for a bowel movement as this might trigger the formation of harder and bigger stool
• Apply ice packs could help to relieve pain and discomfort

Benefits of home remedies to treat piles, fissures, and fistulas

• Helps to relive pain and inflammation
• They might prevent the exacerbation of certain causative agents, such as constipation
• They are affordable alternatives for most patients
• Home remedies can be administered at the convenience of the individual

Drawbacks

• Home remedies are of limited effectiveness in treating fistulas
• The rate of recurrence for piles, fistulas and fissures following administering of home remedies are high

Laser surgery to correct anal piles, fissures and fistula

Sometimes, anal fissures, piles and fistula will not correct on their own. The ailments may also persist even after experimenting with the different home remedies. Should this happen, the only option available is to undergo a surgical procedure and correct the condition. If blood clots have formed as a result of piles, there are two surgical options available. In a hemorrhoidectomy, the protruding ends are clipped off. The protruding piles may also be snipped off. This is followed by stapling the remainder of the tissue, to facilitate in repositioning. 

In case of anal fissures, your doctor may recommend a sphincterotomy as the final alternative. This occurs in case of severe symptoms and the patient cannot have a bowel movement. In this procedure, the surgeon makes a small cut to your sphincter muscles. This incision helps to relive pressure form thereby promoting healing. 

Unlike fissures and piles, fistulas have a high rate of recurrences. A surgical procedure known as fistula-in-ano, provides a permanent solution. The procedure is simple and the risks involved are minimal

Laser surgery has proven to be more effective than the conventional surgeries for treating anal fissures, piles and fistulas. 

The procedure involves the sue of a high-energy light. This radiation energy so emitted during the surgical procedure assist in the burning or cutting of diseases tissues safely and effectively. There is no loss of blood involved, and is less invasive than the conventional surgical procedures.  Laser surgery is a surgical procedure that is mainly conducted in a day-care setting. In other words, the procedure is conducted during the day and you are discharged from the healthcare facility a few hours after surgery. This allows the surgical team to observe how you react to the procedure. 

Benefits of laser surgery over traditional surgery 

• Laser surgery takes less time to conduct that the conventional surgery
• It is simple to administer 
• Laser surgery also has fewer complications. 
• It is characterized by improved surgical precision
• It takes less time to operate a patient, about an hour
• Laser surgery promotes the preservation of the anal sphincter, thereby minimizing the risk of fecal leak or incontinence
• Minimal bleeding and hence less risks 
• Patients undergoing this procedure experience less discomfort post operation in comparison with the conventional procedures
• The risk of infection after laser surgery is minimal 
• Recurrence rates are greatly minimized
• The post-surgical visits to the doctor are fewer
• The success rate for a laser surgical procedure is high in comparison with conventional surgical procedures 

Drawbacks 

• The equipment needed to conduct laser surgery are quite expensive and for this reason, the cost for such a procedure can be out of reach for some people. Also, not many healthcare facilities have such equipment. It is important to find a healthcare facility that offers high quality, reliable and affordable laser surgery for piles
• Like other surgical operations, laser surgery is also prone to complications such as local brining
• A laser surgery to correct piles might lead to subcutaneous abscess

Anal fissures, piles and fistulas are a leading cause for health concerns among millions of Indians. While these ailments share in common certain symptoms it is important that you seek medical help from a qualified medical practitioner. This will assist in the realization of an effective diagnosis and timely administering of an individualized treatment modalities. The pain and discomfort due to an anal piles, fissures or fistula can be so intense such that it negatively affects the patient’s daily activities. For this reason, it is important to seek medical attention so that you can receive individualized healthcare attention.

Home remedies such as a sitz bath, dietary modifications and exercise have proven effective in alleviating pain and suffering due to these medical problems. However, it may be necessary that the patient undergoes a surgical procedure if these home remedies and medications fail to bring about relief.  Laser surgery would be a better option for the treatment of anal fissures, piles and fistula, in comparison to home remedies. This is because the procedure helps to treat the conditions permanently, with a near zero chance of recurrence. Additionally, laser surgery is simple to administer, minimally invasive, and has a very high success rate.

If you are still undecided and want to consult a specialist or surgeon, goficure is the best place to choose. These are the advantages and benefits that we offer:

• A Medi-pal exclusively allocated to look after your interests
• Instantly linking you with the best specialists in Bangalore for treatment of piles, fistula and anal fissures
• Hand-holding you right through the important steps like arranging for appointments, selecting the right medical specialist and hospital for your condition, helping with the formats of the consultation and requirements of the surgery if needed
• Helping you decide the treatment that is most recommended by your surgeon
• Assisting you with the processing of your insurance claims with the added benefits of discounts in the different fees
• Taking care of the follow-up appointments
• Overseeing the post-operative regimen recommended by your doctor including your diet, medicines, exercise, rest and such lifestyle imperatives.