Fistulectomy

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Fistulectomy
ICD-10-PCS K60.3

Fistulectomy is a surgical procedure where a surgeon completely removes a fistula, an abnormal tract (i.e. tube) that connects two hollow spaces of the body. [1] [2] In comparison to other procedural options of treating fistulae such as fistulotomies, where a fistula is cut open (i.e. unroofed) but not completely removed, and seton placement, where a rubber band seton is passed through the tract and left post-operation as a means to allow drainage of the fistula, fistulectomies are considered to be a more radical approach. [3] [2] The total removal of a fistula may damage nearby structures in the process. [3]

Contents

In practice, fistulectomies are primarily performed by colorectal surgeons to treat anorectal fistulous tracts, as fistulas commonly emerge in the anorectal region. [2] In this case, fistulectomies may compromise a patient's anal sphincter, as the removal process may necessitate the surgeon to cut through the muscle. As a result, this may lead to complications such as incontinenece. [3] For this reason, fistulectomies are no longer considered the "gold standard". [3]

Indications

Based on guidlines published by the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgery (ASCRS) in 2016, simple and complex anal fistulas were to be treated by fistulotomy or rubber band seton placement with fistulectomies being a secondary option. [4]

Fistulectomy can be considered in non-anorectal fistulas as well. In these circumstances, a fistulectomy may be the best option for the removal of a patient's diseased soft tissue. [5]

Procedure Steps

For anorectal fistulae, the surgeon begins by identifying the internal and external opening of the fistula. The external opening is usually on the patient's skin and can be identified in clinic. [6] The internal opening is within the anus, and can be found while the surgeon examins the anorectal columns while the patient is under anesthesia. A methalyne blue dye or a peroxide solution may be used to aid with this process. [6]

Once the openings of the tract are found, a thin metal probe is strung through. Using scissors or electrocautery, the surgeon then cores out the tunneling tract. [6] At this point, the surgeon inspects the anal sphincters and closes any defects that were made during the procedure. [6] The wound can then be left open to heal or closed by aproximating the tissue back to its anatomic position with sutures. [6]

Possible Complications

As described above, when a fistulectomy is performed to remove an anorectal fistula tract that involves the anal sphincters, a common complication that may occur is fecal incontinence. [3] The degree of incontinence can be measured using the Wexner score, which can allow surgeons to monitor the progression of incontinence post-operatively. [7]

As with other surgeries, fistulectomies may also pose other complications such as delayed wound healing and infection. [7]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fecal incontinence</span> Inability to refrain from defecation

Fecal incontinence (FI), or in some forms encopresis, is a lack of control over defecation, leading to involuntary loss of bowel contents, both liquid stool elements and mucus, or solid feces. When this loss includes flatus (gas), it is referred to as anal incontinence. FI is a sign or a symptom, not a diagnosis. Incontinence can result from different causes and might occur with either constipation or diarrhea. Continence is maintained by several interrelated factors, including the anal sampling mechanism, and incontinence usually results from a deficiency of multiple mechanisms. The most common causes are thought to be immediate or delayed damage from childbirth, complications from prior anorectal surgery, altered bowel habits. An estimated 2.2% of community-dwelling adults are affected. However, reported prevalence figures vary. A prevalence of 8.39% among non-institutionalized U.S adults between 2005 and 2010 has been reported, and among institutionalized elders figures come close to 50%.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fistula</span> Abnormal connection between two epithelialized surfaces, often organs

In anatomy, a fistula is an abnormal connection joining two hollow spaces, such as blood vessels, intestines, or other hollow organs to each other, often resulting in an abnormal flow of fluid from one space to the other. An anal fistula connects the anal canal to the perianal skin. An anovaginal or rectovaginal fistula is a hole joining the anus or rectum to the vagina. A colovaginal fistula joins the space in the colon to that in the vagina. A urinary tract fistula is an abnormal opening in the urinary tract or an abnormal connection between the urinary tract and another organ. An abnormal communication between the bladder and the uterus is called a vesicouterine fistula, while if it is between the bladder and the vagina it is known as a vesicovaginal fistula, and if between the urethra and the vagina: a urethrovaginal fistula. When occurring between two parts of the intestine, it is known as an enteroenteral fistula, between the small intestine and the skin as an enterocutaneous fistula, and between the colon and the skin as a colocutaneous fistula.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anal fissure</span> Medical condition

An anal fissure is a break or tear in the skin of the anal canal. Anal fissures may be noticed by bright red anal bleeding on toilet paper and undergarments, or sometimes in the toilet. If acute they are painful after defecation, but with chronic fissures, pain intensity often reduces.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rectal prolapse</span> Medical condition

A rectal prolapse occurs when walls of the rectum have prolapsed to such a degree that they protrude out of the anus and are visible outside the body. However, most researchers agree that there are 3 to 5 different types of rectal prolapse, depending on whether the prolapsed section is visible externally, and whether the full or only partial thickness of the rectal wall is involved.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rectovaginal fistula</span> Medical condition

A rectovaginal fistula is a medical condition where there is a fistula or abnormal connection between the rectum and the vagina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colorectal surgery</span> Field in medicine for disabilities in the rectum

Colorectal surgery is a field in medicine dealing with disorders of the rectum, anus, and colon. The field is also known as proctology, but this term is now used infrequently within medicine and is most often employed to identify practices relating to the anus and rectum in particular. The word proctology is derived from the Greek words πρωκτός proktos, meaning "anus" or "hindparts", and -λογία -logia, meaning "science" or "study".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ileostomy</span> Surgical procedure

Ileostomy is a stoma constructed by bringing the end or loop of small intestine out onto the surface of the skin, or the surgical procedure which creates this opening. Intestinal waste passes out of the ileostomy and is collected in an external ostomy system which is placed next to the opening. Ileostomies are usually sited above the groin on the right hand side of the abdomen.

In medicine, the ileal pouch–anal anastomosis (IPAA), also known as restorative proctocolectomy (RPC), ileal-anal reservoir (IAR), an ileo-anal pouch, ileal-anal pullthrough, or sometimes referred to as a J-pouch, S-pouch, W-pouch, or a pelvic pouch, is an anastomosis of a reservoir pouch made from ileum to the anus, bypassing the former site of the colon in cases where the colon and rectum have been removed. The pouch retains and restores functionality of the anus, with stools passed under voluntary control of the person, preventing fecal incontinence and serving as an alternative to a total proctocolectomy with ileostomy.

A seton or seton stitch is a procedure used to aid the healing of fistulae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anal fistula</span> Disease of the anus

Anal fistula is a chronic abnormal communication between the anal canal and the perianal skin. An anal fistula can be described as a narrow tunnel with its internal opening in the anal canal and its external opening in the skin near the anus. Anal fistulae commonly occur in people with a history of anal abscesses. They can form when anal abscesses do not heal properly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stapled hemorrhoidopexy</span>

Stapled hemorrhoidopexy is a surgical procedure that involves the cutting and removal of anal hemorrhoidal vascular cushion, whose function is to help to seal stools and create continence. Procedure also removes abnormally enlarged hemorrhoidal tissue, followed by the repositioning of the remaining hemorrhoidal tissue back to its normal anatomic position. Severe cases of hemorrhoidal prolapse will normally require surgery. Newer surgical procedures include stapled transanal rectal resection (STARR) and procedure for prolapse and hemorrhoids (PPH). Both STARR and PPH are contraindicated in persons with either enterocele or anismus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anorectal abscess</span> Medical condition

Anorectal abscess is an abscess adjacent to the anus. Most cases of perianal abscesses are sporadic, though there are certain situations which elevate the risk for developing the disease, such as diabetes mellitus, Crohn's disease, chronic corticosteroid treatment and others. It arises as a complication of paraproctitis. Ischiorectal, inter- and intrasphincteric abscesses have been described.

Goodsall's rule relates the external opening of an anal fistula to its internal opening. It states that if the perianal skin opening is posterior to the transverse anal line, the fistulous tract will open into the anal canal in the midline posteriorly, sometimes taking a curvilinear course. A perianal skin opening anterior to the transverse anal line is usually associated with a radial fistulous tract.

Lateral internal sphincterotomy is an operation performed on the internal anal sphincter muscle for the treatment of chronic anal fissure. The internal anal sphincter is one of two muscles that comprise the anal sphincter which controls the passage of feces. The procedure helps by lowering the resting pressure of the internal anal sphincter, which improves blood supply to the fissure and allows faster healing. The procedure has been shown to be very effective, with 96% of fissures healing at a median of 3 weeks in one trial.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Human anus</span> External opening of the rectum

In humans, the anus is the external opening of the rectum, located inside the intergluteal cleft and separated from the genitals by the perineum. Two sphincters control the exit of feces from the body during an act of defecation, which is the primary function of the anus. These are the internal anal sphincter and the external anal sphincter, which are circular muscles that normally maintain constriction of the orifice and which relaxes as required by normal physiological functioning. The inner sphincter is involuntary and the outer is voluntary. It is located behind the perineum which is located behind the vulva or scrotum.

Rectal discharge is intermittent or continuous expression of liquid from the anus. Normal rectal mucus is needed for proper excretion of waste. Otherwise, this is closely related to types of fecal incontinence but the term rectal discharge does not necessarily imply degrees of incontinence. Types of fecal incontinence that produce a liquid leakage could be thought of as a type of rectal discharge.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anismus</span> Medical condition

Anismus or dyssynergic defecation is the failure of normal relaxation of pelvic floor muscles during attempted defecation. It can occur in both children and adults, and in both men and women. It can be caused by physical defects or it can occur for other reasons or unknown reasons. Anismus that has a behavioral cause could be viewed as having similarities with parcopresis, or psychogenic fecal retention.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anorectal disorder</span> Medical condition

Anorectal disorders include conditions involving the anorectal junction as seen in the image. They are painful but common conditions like hemorrhoids, tears, fistulas, or abscesses that affect the anal region. Most people experience some form of anorectal disorder during their lifetime. Primary care physicians can treat most of these disorders, however, high-risk individuals include those with HIV, roughly half of whom need surgery to remedy the disorders. Likelihood of malignancy should also be considered in high risk individuals. This is why it is important to perform a full history and physical exam on each patient. Because these disorders affect the rectum, people are often embarrassed or afraid to confer with a medical professional.

In fecal incontinence (FI), surgery may be carried out if conservative measures alone are not sufficient to control symptoms. There are many surgical options described for FI, and they can be considered in 4 general groups.

A rectovestibular fistula, also referred to simply as a vestibular fistula, is an anorectal congenital disorder where an abnormal connection (fistula) exists between the rectum and the vulval vestibule of the female genitalia.

References

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  2. 1 2 3 Jimenez, Mercy; Mandava, Nageswara (2023), "Anorectal Fistula", StatPearls, Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing, PMID   32809492 , retrieved 2024-01-12
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Seyfried, Steffen; Herold, Alexander (December 2019). "Management of Perianal Fistulas in Crohn's Disease". Visceral Medicine. 35 (6): 338–343. doi:10.1159/000504103. ISSN   2297-4725. PMC   6944889 . PMID   31934580.
  4. Hwang, Sung Hwan (2022). "Trends in Treatment for Hemorrhoids, Fistula, and Anal Fissure: Go Along the Current Trends". Journal of the Anus, Rectum and Colon. 6 (3): 150–158. doi:10.23922/jarc.2022-012. PMC   9328791 . PMID   35979269.
  5. Bocchi, Maria Beatrice; Cianni, Luigi; Perna, Andrea; Raffaele, Vitiello; Greco, Tommaso; Maccauro, Giulio; Perisano, Carlo (2020-12-30). "A rare case of Bacillus megaterium soft tissues infection". Acta Biomedica Atenei Parmensis. 91 (14–S): e2020013. doi:10.23750/abm.v91i14-S.10849. ISSN   2531-6745. PMC   7944702 . PMID   33559642.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 "Fistulectomy - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics". www.sciencedirect.com. Retrieved 2024-01-15.
  7. 1 2 Farag, Ahmed Farag Ahmed; Elbarmelgi, Mohamed Yehia; Mostafa, Mahmoud; Mashhour, Abdrabou N. (2019-08-01). "One stage fistulectomy for high anal fistula with reconstruction of anal sphincter without fecal diversion". Asian Journal of Surgery. 42 (8): 792–796. doi:10.1016/j.asjsur.2018.12.005. ISSN   1015-9584. PMID   30738718.