Dr. Zuri Murrell is a board-certified colorectal surgeon in Los Angeles, giving him the ability to help virtually any patient suffering from anal fistulas. Because colorectal issues tend to be sensitive, Dr. Murrell’s top priority is providing an environment that gives his patients comfort and peace of mind. His office is a place where patients can safely and comfortably seek treatment for anal fistulas. If you are suffering from an anal fistula, Dr. Murrell is known for delivering the best anal fistula treatment Los Angeles has to offer. To begin on your road to relief, please call our office and set an appointment.

Anal Fistula Overview

An anal fistula is a channel that develops between the rectal interior and the outer anal skin, generally from an anorectal abscess. It develops under the skin and is open at both ends.

In most cases, it is a single canal, while other cases may find the fistula has branched into multiple openings in the skin. Fistulas unfortunately rarely heal on their own, prompting the need for surgery.

Anal Fistula Symptoms

While the below symptoms can help you sort out the likelihood that you have an anal fistula, it is always important to seek the care of a professional colorectal surgeon. This way, your diagnosis can be 100% accurate, leading to treatment that can help you find relief.

Anal fistula symptoms include:

Painful swelling around the anus
Painful bowel movements
Anal bleeding
Discharge from an opening next to the anus
Irritated skin around the anus
There may also be more general symptoms, such as fever, fatigue and chills

Anal Fistula Causes

In most cases, untreated anal abscesses are the cause of anal fistulas. An anal abscess is an infected pocket of pus in or around the anorectal area. While anal abscesses can usually be treated with antibiotics, some cases require more comprehensive measures to fully eliminate the infection. Statistics indicate that about 50% of anal abscesses will develop into an anal fistula.

Proper and swift treatment of an anal abscess can prevent the development of anal fistulas. To help you determine if you have an anal abscess, we’ve listed the symptoms below.

If you experience any of these, please make an appointment to see Dr. Murrell for a professional diagnosis:

Throbbing pain in the anus, which worsens when sitting
Visible irritation of perianal skin, including swelling and redness
Pus emission
Constipation
Pain during bowel movements

Anal fistulas can also be a complication from inflammatory bowel conditions, including:

Gonorrhea
Crohn’s disease
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Diverticulitis
Rectal cancer

Your Colorectal Specialist: Meet Dr. Zuri Murrell

For patients seeking the very best in colorectal care, Dr. Zuri Murrell provides among the most caring, compassionate treatment. As a board-certified proctologist in Beverly Hills, Dr. Murrell has the experience and knowledge necessary to help virtually any patient through the suffering that comes along with colorectal issues. With his definitive enthusiasm for helping people succeed, his patients routinely report the best anal fistula treatment Los Angeles has to offer.

Meet Dr. Murrell

Anal Fistula Treatment

In treating anal fistulas, Dr. Murrell will use one of several techniques in the effort to provide total relief. His surgical approaches to anal fistulas are designed to treat the fistula while preventing any muscular damage to the sphincter. After a thorough exam to determine the extent and nature of the fistula, Dr. Murrell will thoroughly discuss your options. If you are suffering from severe rectal pain, it may be time to seek what patients are calling the most effective anal fistula surgery Los Angeles has to offer.

Treatment options:

Fistulotomy

As the most common procedure for those suffering from anal fistulas, a fistulotomy is used in 85-95% of anal fistula cases. Its purpose is to fully expose the fistula, allowing it to properly heal. This is done by making an incision from one end of the fistula to the other. From there, Dr. Murrell can fully flush out the infection and pus, leaving a clean wound. Next, he will use sterile packing to ensure the fistula heals from the inside out. Over the following weeks, Dr. Murrell will see you through the healing process, ensuring you have a full, comfortable recovery from your anal fistula surgery.

Seton technique

Sometimes a fistula will be large enough that treating it with a fistulotomy presents a high risk of incontinence, or the inability to control one’s sphincter. In this case, the seton technique is less invasive and can preserve as much muscle as possible. It is done by inserting a surgical thread through the fistula. With the thread in place, the fistula can be allowed to drain properly before healing.

Bioprosthetic plug

A bioprosthetic plug is a cone-shaped device made from human tissue. It is inserted into the internal opening of the fistula, leaving the external side open so that it can drain properly. Over time, tissue heals over the external opening. During the healing process, Dr. Murrell will monitor the fistula closely to ensure an anal abscess doesn’t develop.

Endorectal advancement flap

This procedure involves creating a flap of mucosal tissue around the internal opening of the fistula. Once this flap is made, the fistula is cleaned from the internal opening, which is then sutured shut. Next, the external opening of the fistula is cleaned and then sutured shut. As with a bioprosthetic plug, the healing process is closely monitored to ensure no further complications arise.

Schedule a Consultation Today

If you feel you have an anal fistula, it may be time to seek treatment. Dr. Murrell has a long record of helping patients find relief from anal fistulas, allowing them to resume a normal, burden-free life. The first step is a comprehensive consultation with Dr. Murrell, during which time he will determine the exact condition, followed by an effective treatment plan. His goal is to give you the smoothest and most effective anal fistula surgery Los Angeles has available. To get started, please call our office today.