Description

What is the best treatment for anal fissure? Anal Fissure is common. The good news is that the majority of patients can be treated medically without the need for a procedure or surgery. Dr. Rajiv believes in customizing the care according to the needs of the patient. He recommends to each patient what is best based on a personalized approach. Dr. Rajiv advises a procedure or an operation when the symptoms are very severe, recurrent, or for patients who do not improve with medications. When an intervention is needed, a minimally invasive procedure is considered for patients who can benefit from it. What are the benefits of minimally invasive procedures for anal fissure? Minimally invasive procedures yield many benefits including less pain, faster recovery, and earlier return to work. Some interventions are done in the office without the need for hospitalization and patients can return to work the day following office based procedures. For procedures performed in the operating room, most patients go home within 24 hours of the procedure and are back to work within 1 week. What are minimally invasive procedures for anal fissure? There are 2 types of minimally invasive procedures for anal fissure: Office based interventions. Anal dilation and Botox® injection can be performed in the office. The goal is to gently stretch and relax the anal muscle to allow the fissure to heal. The risks are minimal. Post-procedural care includes Sitz Bath for 1 to 2 days, acetaminophen pills (Tylenol, Adol, Panadol) if any discomfort, and keeping the stool soft with High Fiber Food and Fiber Supplements. Operating room procedures. For some patients Botox® injection into the muscle is done in the operating room along with scraping of the fissure (fissurectomy). Prednisone injection into the fissure area is an alternative procedure that can be performed along with anal dilation. Laser fissure treatment is another option for some patient.