Anus and rectum can be afflicted by diseases such as piles, fistula, fissure, rectal prolapse and cancers. The first four are common ailments but are infrequently reported by patients. They feel embarrassed to share it even with their friends and relatives. Sometimes the spouse also is not aware. This can be dangerous since a long standing bleeding in stools due to piles and fissure can lead to anemia or low iron in the body. These patients may present with weakness, breathlessness and hair loss.
A more cause of concern is when patients assume their bleeding to be due to piles and fissure without a checkup and start on self medication. Sometimes these bleeding in stool -especially if associated with pain-may be due to other sinister cause such as cancer. It is sad then to see patients oblivious of their malady presenting with advanced and incurable cancers. Hence it’s wise to get yourself checked if one has bleeding in stool.
Patients also under report to gastro surgeons because of their fear of operation and the associated pain and wound. I would like to dispel this fear. Operations for piles, fistula, fissure, prolapse and certain cancers are now done by minimally invasive technique. This means that there is no or minimal wound and pain. There are no dressings involved and the patients go home the next day. They return to work within a week. This is possible because of advanced technology and technique. Piles are now treated with staplers, fistulas with techniques such as LIFT, VAAFT and seton and rectal prolapse and cancers with laparoscopy. You can watch these procedures in my channel on the YouTube.
Needless to say these modern methods of treatment are more acceptable to the patient because of their comfort. Patients, who were once scared to come forward for their treatment and often fell prey to unscientific practices harming themselves, are now eagerly accepting the modern treatment.
Watch the Anorectal Surgery video on YouTube.