Your surgeon for Anal Fistula
Every procedure is carried out by a consultant-level surgeon.
What is Anal Fistula?
An anal fistula is a small abnormal tunnel that connects the inside of the back passage to the skin around its opening. It usually forms after an anal abscess has burst or been drained and the tract does not close on its own.
It is why the problem keeps returning - discharge, pain and swelling settle for a few days and then come back. Left alone the tract can branch and become harder to treat, so it is worth seeing a surgeon early.
An examination, and sometimes an ultrasound or MRI scan, is used to map the tract before anything is done. Every fistula is different, and the plan depends on how much of the muscle around the back passage it crosses.
At Primitive Health Care the usual treatment is laser fistula surgery. A thin laser fibre is passed along the tract, so there are no cuts and, in most cases, no stitches. Most patients go home the same day.
Illustration only. Your surgeon will explain your own findings.
Anal Fistula treatment at a glance
The essentials, before you read any further.
| Condition | Anal Fistula |
|---|---|
| Procedure | Laser fistula tract ablation |
| Duration | 30 to 45 minutes |
| Performed by | General / Laparoscopic Surgeon |
| Anaesthesia | Spinal, sometimes general |
| Hospital stay | Same day discharge in most cases |
| Back to routine | 24 to 72 hours |
Are you experiencing any of these?
If two or more of these sound familiar, it is worth speaking to a surgeon.
- Pus or discharge near the anus
- Pain and swelling around the anus
- Pain during bowel movement
- Bleeding or foul-smelling discharge
- A boil or abscess that keeps coming back
- A small opening near the anus that heals and then reopens
Talk to our medical adviser for free
No cost for the first consultation and no obligation to book anything.
Laser treatment compared with open surgery
Both are real options. This is how they differ in practice.
| Open surgery | Laser surgery | |
|---|---|---|
| Cuts and incisions | Open wound required | No cuts, laser fibre only |
| Stitches | Multiple stitches | Usually none |
| Pain afterwards | Significant, needs strong painkillers | Mild, controlled with routine medication |
| Bleeding | Higher | Minimal |
| Hospital stay | Two to three days | Same day discharge in most cases |
| Return to work | Two to three weeks | Two to three days |
| Risk of wound infection | Higher, open wound | Low |
Laser treatment is not right for every patient or every grade of the condition. Your surgeon will tell you honestly if open surgery is the better choice for you.
Why patients choose laser treatment
What actually changes for you, day to day.
No cuts or stitches
The laser fibre is passed along the tract, so there is no open wound left behind to heal.
Same-day discharge
Most patients go home within a few hours of the procedure rather than staying overnight.
Back to work in days
Normal routine usually resumes within two to three days instead of two to three weeks.
Less bleeding
The laser seals the tract as it works, so blood loss during the procedure is minimal.
Lower infection risk
With no open wound, the chance of a wound infection is much lower than with open surgery.
Senior surgeons
Every procedure is performed by a professor-level general or laparoscopic surgeon.
What happens on the day
Step by step, so there are no surprises.
-
Consultation and diagnosis
20 to 30 minutes- You meet the surgeon and describe your symptoms
- An examination is done to map the fistula tract
- The surgeon explains whether laser treatment is suitable for you
-
Admission and preparation
1 to 2 hours- Registration at the hospital on the day of the procedure
- Blood pressure, pulse and routine blood tests are checked
- Consent is signed and an IV line is started
-
Anaesthesia
10 to 15 minutes- Usually spinal anaesthesia, sometimes general
- You stay pain-free throughout the procedure
-
The laser procedure
30 to 45 minutes- The surgeon traces the tract from the external opening to the internal one
- A thin laser fibre delivers controlled energy along the tract
- No cutting and, in most cases, no stitches
- The tract closes and heals over the following weeks
-
Recovery and observation
2 to 4 hours- You rest in the recovery area while the anaesthesia wears off
- Nurses check your vitals and you start taking fluids
-
Discharge and follow-up
Same day- Most patients go home the same day
- Painkillers and sitz bath advice are given
- A follow-up visit is arranged and hygiene advice is given
What will it cost?
The cost depends on how complex the fistula tract is, the hospital you choose and the operating surgeon. Send your details and a care coordinator will call you with an exact figure. There is no obligation to book.
