Description

When the skin of the anus gets cut or damaged, that is called an anal fissure. It is very similar to what happens when our dry lips get chaffed. Fissures typically bleed and cause pain, which is why they are often confused with haemorrhoids/ piles. When the anal muscles are stretched too far, it usually causes strain on the anus. This can occur to people who suffer from constipation or prolonged diarrhoea. It also occurs for older patients due to decreased blood flow to the anal area. It is not uncommon for women to develop anal fissures after giving birth as well. And it can also happen to people who have Crohn’s disease. With more severe cases of anus tearing, an external lump will form on the anus. These are the sentinel piles tell-tale of chronic fissures. The issue of anal fissures can be solved by medicine or by surgery and also by laparoscopic treatment. Symptoms Some signs and symptoms of anal fissures : Pain during bowel movement Pain after the bowel movements Blood on the stool or toilet paper Anal itching Visible damage to the skin of the anus A small lump that’s close to the anal fissure. Treatments Chemical Sphincterotomy Chemical Sphincterotomy is basically a Botox Injection for anal fissures; it is a very common Treatment for Anal Fissures. If the anal fissure doesn’t heal, it’s usually because of the spasm of the internal anal sphincter muscle which reduces blood supply to that area and further aggravation occurs to the fissure during the passage of motion through a spasmodic anal canal. The Botox is injected into the anal sphincter. This injection is used to prevent spasm and cause temporary paralytic relaxation until the tissues are renewed. The effects last for three months and the anal fissure heals during that time. Percutaneous Closed Lateral Internal Sphincterotomy This surgery, popularly known as CLIS, is a quick minimal invasive surgical method performed by specialized doctors under local anaesthesia that is used to treat chronic anal fissures. It is performed on the internal part of the anal muscle, the internal anal sphincter. The surgical procedure basically lowers the pressure of the internal anal sphincter and the spasm is reduced by dividing this internal anal sphincter. The fissure is healed because anal spasm is lowered and blood flow to the area is improved. Due to the closed technique, the wound is smaller and it heals faster.