Everyone Healthy Library
Anorectal Fistula
Also Known As: fistula-in-ano) is an abnormal passage connecting the anus or rectum to the skin surface; or, less commonly, another organ
Condition / disease reference page from the Everyone Healthy database.
! Seek urgent medical care if warning signs appear
Some health conditions or symptoms can become urgent. Use this page for education, but seek help quickly if warning signs are present.
Get urgent medical care now if there is any severe, sudden, rapidly worsening or worrying symptom, especially:
- chest pain, pressure or pain spreading to the arm, jaw or back
- trouble breathing, blue lips, severe wheeze or choking
- stroke-like symptoms such as face drooping, arm weakness or speech trouble
- collapse, fainting, seizure, confusion or extreme drowsiness
- severe bleeding, black stools, vomiting blood or major injury
- severe allergic reaction, swelling of the face/throat or widespread rash with breathing trouble
- severe abdominal pain, severe headache, stiff neck or sudden vision change
- signs of severe dehydration, sepsis, high fever with worsening illness, or symptoms in a baby/young child that concern you
Connected health information
Explore this condition in a clear order
Linked signs and symptoms
6Each sign/symptom opens its own page and links back to related conditions.
Linked drugs / medications
0No linked drugs are listed yet.
Treatments, therapies and supportive options
14Grouped by treatment type. These are educational database links, not personal treatment recommendations. Evidence labels are shown only where stored in the EH database.
Surgery
3Medical therapy
6Alternative and complementary therapies
1Linked diagnostic tests and investigations
5These are pulled from both EH diagnostic-test link tables, including the older large test-link table.
Biological markers/agents
3This visual map shows biological markers/agents reported as increased or decreased with this condition. These are educational relationships only; test results must be interpreted by a qualified clinician because ranges vary by lab, method, age, sex and clinical context.
Often increased
2Often decreased
1Introduction / full article
Anorectal Fistula
Anorectal Fistula
Anorectal fistula (also known as fistula-in-ano) is an abnormal passage connecting the anus or rectum to the skin surface; or, less commonly, another organ.
Causes
Anorectal fistulae are often associated with anorectal abscesses. In other cases, they are linked to patients of:
· Tuberculosis;
· Crohn’s disease – a form of inflammatory bowel disease;
· Cancer;
· Diverticulitis – inflammation along the inner lining of the intestine; and
· Injury to the anus or rectum.
Disease pathway
The majority of fistulae start as a large gland in the wall of the anus or rectum; often occurring after an anorectal abscess of the gland has been drained.
Prolonged presence of fluid within the gland prevents the cavity from closing, resulting in the formation of the fistula.
Symptoms and diagnosis
Anorectal fistulae can present with a number of symptoms, including:
· Pain in the anal region;
· Discharge – especially when the fistula has become infected;
· Itching; and
· Body-wide symptoms of infection, such as fever, headaches, etc.
Upon physical examination, one or more openings of the fistula are usually visible to the doctor, or at least palpable beneath the skin. The doctor may insert a probe to gauge its direction and depth.
Treatment
There are a number of surgical options available to treat anorectal fistulae. The suitability of each will depend on the location of the fistula; its size; and the cause. For many of the methods, however, a scar is likely to remain.