Colorectal surgery (surgery of food pipes) is done for various diseases such as cancers, inflammatory bowel disease, diverticulitis and rectal prolapse. The good news is that unlike in the past all these surgeries can now be done by laparoscopy. This translates into less pain, less scar, more comfort and decreased hospital stay. There is now enough evidence to demonstrate that colon and rectal cancers can also be treated effectively and more comfortably with laparoscopy. Gone are the days when a long wound was required to do these surgeries.
Anal surgery has also undergone a sea of change. Conventional Surgery for piles and fistula used to be a painful affair requiring wound dressings in the postoperative period for days and sometimes weeks. This translated into prolonged hospital stay, delayed return to work and normal life. This made the patients search for alternative less painful options. More often than not they would land up with quacks who offered them magic pills, local creams, “innovative anal interventions” and many other unscientific treatments.
Modern technology has now made it possible to perform these surgeries through painless and wound free methods. Nowadays, one can do stapler procedure for piles whereby the procedure is done at the rectal level, which leaves no wound at the anal level and consequently no pain, and need for dressings. A blessing indeed to thousands of patients, who suffer with the disease quietly without treatment because of their fear.
Similarly, anal fistulas can now be treated with two novel techniques- endoscopic method (known as VAAFT) and the plug technique.
In the VAAFT technique, the fistula tract is treated from inside by a very fine bore endoscope and the opening at the anus is closed with staples.
In the plug technique the tract is blocked with an artificial material shaped like the tract.
In both these techniques the fistula is healed without any pain or wound. There is also no risk of damage to the anal sphincter (muscle responsible to hold stool) since the procedure is performed from inside the tract. Moreover it is an outpatient procedure and does not result in any disruption in work or normal life.
These revolution in colorectal and anal surgery is indeed a source of some cheer for patients suffering with piles, fistula and cancers of colon and rectum. At least they can now get away with much less pain and wound.
Watch full Video on YouTube on Anal Surgery.