"Delicate question": anal fissure

It is not customary to discuss this problem out loud; many people are embarrassed to even contact their doctor. Such a disease associated with inflammation of the mucous membrane of the anus, such as an anal fissure, is often confused with the manifestation of another ailment - hemorrhoids. That is why it is so important to diagnose it on time and start treatment under the guidance of a competent specialist.

Causes of anal fissure

Anal fissure is one of the most common occurrences in the medical practice of a proctologist. A fissure is a soft tissue divergence, a defect located vertically near the anus, usually about 3 cm long and no more than 3 mm wide.

Most often, women suffer from this ailment, less often men, in some cases, similar injuries can be found in young children.

It is difficult to name the only reason for the appearance of an anal fissure. The mucous membrane around the anus can become thinner due to mechanical action or an inflammatory process, as a result of which the tissue tears and begins to thicken under the influence of microorganisms, a scar appears that is quite difficult to heal.

Causes of damage to the mucous membrane:

1. Neglect of hygiene rules - the mucous membrane around the anus is very delicate, in order to avoid inflammation after each act of defecation, it is necessary to carry out a cleansing procedure.
2. Persistent constipation is one of the important factors that can trigger the appearance of a scar.
3. Frequent exercise can put extra pressure on the rectum.
4. During childbirth often tears of the anus mucosa occur.
5. Fans of unconventional sex are also familiar with this problem.
6. The thin walls of the intestine can easily be injured by foreign objects - an enema, toys for adults.
7. Violation of the rules in medical research is often another reason.
8. People with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and cardiovascular system can suffer from this ailment.

Prevention of the appearance of diseases of the anus is:

1. So that the blood does not stagnate in the pelvic organs, you should lead an active lifestyle, you need to move more, go in for sports.
2. Correct, varied food.
3. Exclusion of alcoholic beverages, which significantly dilate blood vessels, due to which the blood rushes to the pelvic organs.

Chronic anal fissure

In the presence of an anal fissure, the proctologist will first of all determine the shape diseases, there are two of them:

• The cause of the acute stage is most often mechanical damage, for example, rupture can occur as a result of exposure to dense feces. Quite often, this form does not require treatment and the gap will heal in just a few days.
• The chronic stage occurs with repeated exposure to the scar, in this case the gap increases in size and becomes inflamed, then you should consult a doctor, the treatment can take several weeks or even months.

The development of a chronic form of the disease can cause various complications, for example:

• acute, pronounced pain sensations;
• the occurrence of paraproctitis - inflammation of the rectal tissue;
• heavy bleeding;
• colitis - a disease of the mucous membrane of the colon;
• inflammation of the prostate gland.

Anal fissure symptoms

Symptoms of pathology can manifest themselves in different ways, in some patients they occur in combination. Here are the main signs:

1. The main symptom of the appearance of an anal fissure is a sharp pain, burning sensation, pulsation, which are especially pronounced during bowel movement. The fact is that there are many nerve endings around the anus; during bowel movements, the feces irritate the mucous membrane, causing even more inflammation.
2. It is not uncommon to notice the release of a small amount of blood on toilet paper. In the acute stage of the disease, bleeding may open, which is very dangerous for the patient's life and requires immediate attention to specialists.
3. With the transition from the acute stage of the disease to the chronic one often occurs pain, burning and redness around the anus.
4. Constipation can appear due to the emotional state of the patient, who, fearing another attack of pain, is simply afraid to go to the toilet. This further aggravates the problem, the feces become hard and irritate the intestinal walls and the mucous membrane of the anus.

Anal fissure treatment

Before starting the treatment of the anal fissure, the doctor will listen to the patient and conduct an examination.

Research types:

1. Most often, a rupture can be determined by an external method, it looks like a longitudinal or triangular red defect.
2. In more difficult cases, the examination is carried out in a special chair. If a patient presents with acute pain, pain relief is often required on examination. After that, the doctor inserts a finger into the rectum and probes its walls.
3. Sigmoidoscopy is a more modern and accurate method for diagnosing diseases of the rectum. With the help of a special device, suspicious neoplasms and inflamed segments of the intestine can be detected.

All methods of treating the disease can be roughly divided into surgical and non-surgical.

1. The first thing a doctor will most likely prescribe is products(boiled beets, dried fruits, bananas) to normalize the stool. The patient should consume more fiber, then the feces will soften and the process of defecation will be easier. Laxatives ("Normase", "Senade") can also help to cope with constipation.
2. The use of warm baths in case of illness will not be superfluous, for this you need to sit in a warm bath for about 20 minutes, this will be enough for the muscles of the anus to relax.
3. Another effective method is herbal enemas.
4. In the treatment of the acute stage of the disease, it is permissible to use medications - suppositories, ointments, tablets, injections into the sphincter area, which help relieve pain.

Anal fissure ointment

In the chronic stage of anal ruptures, the usual diet and baths are sometimes not enough, then the doctor may prescribe special drugs for external use. Ointments, cream and gels relieve pain and spasms in the sphincter area. Most popular remedies:

1. Solcoseryl gels and ointments are an effective healing agent, thanks to which the process of regeneration of epithelial cells occurs much faster. Usually, a gel is used first, which "dries" the breaks, it is non-greasy and can be easily washed off with water. "Solcoseryl" - the ointment has a thicker texture and creates an invisible film around the damage.
2. Ointment "Aurobin" is created specifically for the healing of anal fissures, has antiseptic properties, relieves pain.
3. Cream "Ultraproct" is suitable for the treatment of anal tears and hemorrhoids, eliminates pain and burning, the effect of the application lasts a long time.

Anal fissure suppositories

Comprehensive treatment of anal fissure may include the use of rectal suppositories, which promote accelerated healing of wounds, eliminate pain and burning sensation and relieve inflammation around the anus. This method of combating the disease is most popular due to its simplicity and effectiveness of use, because active active ingredients are absorbed much faster through the rectum.

The modern pharmaceutical industry offers an extensive selection of suppositories, the attending physician will help you decide, based on the anamnesis and the presence of contraindications.

1. Suppositories "Ultraproct" - a well-known remedy for the conservative treatment of hemorrhoids and anal injuries. Thanks to him, the healing of the rectal mucosa occurs more rapidly, swelling and inflammation subsides, the ability of tissues to prevent the penetration of bacteria and infections.
2. "Posterisan" - rectal suppositories of a new generation, have an anti-inflammatory effect, relieve pain, burning and itching in the anus.
3. Suppositories "Relief" can be used for hemorrhoids and anal fissure. The main component is shark liver oil, stimulates local immunity, heals wounds, facilitates the act of defecation.
4. "Proctosan" is a drug that, in addition to its basic properties, is able to relieve pain, as it contains lidocaine.

Anal fissure: surgery

Sometimes diets, enemas and drug treatment of defects in the mucous membrane of the anus do not help, the problem can torment a person for several months, turning into a chronic stage. In this case, the doctor may suggest solving a delicate issue with the help of a surgical intervention. Excision of the anal gap is a simple procedure and takes only 20 minutes. Before the operation, it is necessary to follow a diet and carry out cleansing measures.

First, the patient is given anesthesia - general anesthesia, and then the surgeon dissects the sphincter so that the feces can pass freely. After that, the edges of the gap are excised, leaving an open wound, which heals within a few days.

Less traumatic methods are minimally invasive methods - removal of the anal fissure using a laser beam, high-frequency waves and cauterization with current.