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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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How Long Should It Take To Heal After Having Fistula In Anus Operated?

I ve just recently had an fistula in ano operated on this past Tuesday. It started at the bottom of my vagina and went around to the back of my anus . The incision was 7cm long and about 5cm deep. It was decided to leave open to heal up as the fistual itself was situated between 2 muscles. I have not had any bleeding and bowel movements have been okay. I ve been having sitz baths 3 to 4 times a day adding a drop of tea tree and lavender in to the salt to help with healing . I know this is like saying how long is a piece of string but how long should it take before things heal up. My follow up is in 2 weeks.
Thu, 20 Sep 2012
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Internal Medicine Specialist,  's  Response
This is very variable. It depends if you have inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease or Ulcerative Colitis), and if you are on medication for it.
If you don't have this condition, and it is just an isolated fistula secondary to other problems (such as a surgical complication, obstetric complications) it should be quicker to heal. The time to heal up is also variable depending on the type of surgery they did to close it up. Commonly surgeons leave a "seton" string (plastic string) inside the fistula that hangs out through the fistula, and then close it up after a few weeks to months, depending on how it looks and heals up. I would estimate an average of at least 4 weeks to heal up if you do not have inflammatory bowel disease. If you do have this condition you will benefit from strong injectable medications (called Anti-TNF).
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How Long Should It Take To Heal After Having Fistula In Anus Operated?

This is very variable. It depends if you have inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn s disease or Ulcerative Colitis), and if you are on medication for it. If you don t have this condition, and it is just an isolated fistula secondary to other problems (such as a surgical complication, obstetric complications) it should be quicker to heal. The time to heal up is also variable depending on the type of surgery they did to close it up. Commonly surgeons leave a seton string (plastic string) inside the fistula that hangs out through the fistula, and then close it up after a few weeks to months, depending on how it looks and heals up. I would estimate an average of at least 4 weeks to heal up if you do not have inflammatory bowel disease. If you do have this condition you will benefit from strong injectable medications (called Anti-TNF).