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Anal Fistula Treatment

Sphincter-saving fistula surgery by senior surgeons — accurate tract mapping, the right technique for your anatomy, and recurrence kept to a minimum.

Anal Fistula (Bhagandar)

What is an anal fistula?

An anal fistula (bhagandar) is an abnormal tunnel between the inside of the anal canal and the skin near the anus, almost always the aftermath of an anal abscess. It causes recurring boils, pus discharge and discomfort — and it does not heal on its own. Fistula surgery is genuinely operator-dependent: the surgeon must eliminate the tract completely while protecting the sphincter muscle that maintains continence.

Common causes

  • ✓ A previous anal abscess (most common)
  • ✓ Crohn’s disease and bowel inflammation
  • ✓ Tuberculosis (relevant in India and always tested for when suspected)
  • ✓ Previous anorectal surgery or injury
Know the Signs

Experiencing any of these symptoms?

Common symptoms

  • ✓ A recurring boil near the anus that bursts, discharges and refills
  • ✓ Persistent pus or blood-stained discharge
  • ✓ Pain and swelling that comes and goes
  • ✓ Skin irritation around the anus
  • ✓ An external opening visible near the anus

See a doctor urgently for

  • ✓ Fever with a hot, swollen, very painful area (abscess needing drainage)
  • ✓ Rapidly spreading redness
  • ✓ Severe pain with inability to sit

Emergency 24×7: 091551 00001

Diagnosis

How is it diagnosed?

The key to curing a fistula is knowing its exact path. We combine clinical examination with MRI fistulogram or endoanal assessment for complex or recurrent tracts, so the operation is planned on real anatomy — not guesswork. High or branching tracts are identified before surgery, which is what keeps recurrence low.

Treatment Options

Your treatment options, honestly explained

Non-surgical management

There is no reliable non-surgical cure for an established fistula — medicines and home remedies only quieten flare-ups temporarily. Beware of anyone promising a permanent fix without an operation; delay usually lets the tract branch and become harder to cure.

Surgical treatment at Bawa Hospital

We select the technique to fit your tract: fistulectomy or fistulotomy for straightforward low tracts, and sphincter-preserving options such as LIFT or laser-assisted closure (FiLaC-type) with or without seton placement for high or complex tracts. The goal is a permanent cure with your continence fully protected.

We recommend surgery only when it is genuinely the best option for you — and explain why, in plain language, before you decide.

Recovery

What recovery looks like

Day 0–1

Usually day-care or one-night admission; walking and eating the same day.

Week 1

Dressings and sitz baths at home; desk work generally possible.

Week 2–4

Wound heals progressively from the inside; follow-up visits confirm closure.

Week 4–6

Complete healing in most simple tracts; complex tracts may take longer, monitored closely.

Timelines are typical for uncomplicated cases — your surgeon will give you a personalised plan.

Cost & Insurance

Transparent pricing, no surprises

What decides the cost?

The final cost depends on the technique used, the complexity of your case, the type of room you choose and your length of stay. After your consultation you receive a clear, itemised estimate — before you decide anything.

Using health insurance?

Bring your policy details or insurance card and our front-desk team will help you with the paperwork and coordination with your insurer from admission through discharge.

Serving North India

Patients travel to us from across the region

Bawa Hospital in Ludhiana treats patients from across Punjab — including Chandigarh, Mohali, Jalandhar, Amritsar, Patiala, Bathinda, Moga and Khanna — as well as Delhi NCR, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir.

For outstation patients we plan the consultation, pre-operative tests and surgery to minimise trips — often completed in a single visit, with follow-up support on WhatsApp.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Can a fistula heal with medicines or Ayurveda alone?

No. An established fistula tract does not close permanently without a procedure. Kshar-sutra and medicine may control symptoms, but the definitive, evidence-based cure is surgery matched to the tract anatomy.

Why do fistulas recur after surgery?

Almost always because part of the tract or an internal opening was missed, or a branching tract was not identified. That is why we insist on proper imaging for complex tracts and why senior surgeons operate — recurrence prevention starts before the first incision.

Will fistula surgery affect my bowel control?

Protecting continence is the central principle of modern fistula surgery. For tracts involving significant muscle we use sphincter-preserving techniques (LIFT, laser-assisted closure, staged setons) precisely so control is not compromised.

Is laser fistula treatment better?

Laser-assisted closure is an excellent sphincter-saving option for the right tract — but no single technique fits every fistula. We choose based on your anatomy, not on marketing.

How soon after an abscess should a fistula be checked?

If an abscess has burst or been drained and discharge keeps returning, get evaluated within weeks. Early assessment keeps the tract simple and the surgery smaller.

Medically reviewed by Prof. (Dr.) Ashvind Bawa, MS FACS — Director, Surgical Services · Last reviewed July 2026

Cure the fistula properly, the first time

Accurate mapping, senior surgeons and sphincter-saving techniques — because recurrent fistula surgery is much harder than getting it right once.