A fistula-in-ano, commonly known as a fistula, is an abnormal tunnel-like passage that forms between the anal canal and the skin near the anus. It usually develops due to an infection or abscess in the anal glands, which, if left untreated, creates a tract that opens both internally (inside the anal canal) and externally (on the skin around the anus).
In simpler terms, it’s like a small tube connecting the inside of the anus to the outside skin, which can lead to repeated infections, discharge, pain, or swelling.
In Ayurveda, this condition is referred to as Bhagandhara, a disease that can affect the area around the genitals, urinary bladder, and anus, causing significant discomfort and damage if not treated properly.
Commonest Non-Specific Fistula caused by Infection of Anal Crypts and Anal glands due to
Specific Fistula is the one caused by some other illness like
In fact, a true fistula is a surgical disease and cannot be cured with medicines alone. If fistula occur due to TUBERCULOSIS, CROHN’S, INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE or CANCER surgery alone is not the answer and many a times ends up in failure.
FISTULOTOMY - means laying open the track
FITULECTOMY - means removal of complete track along with internal opening and external opening
Since in these two procedures results in some sort of sphincter damage lot of new techniques were invented to save the sphincters
At Nalam Ayurveda, we treat complex fistulas using advanced Ayurvedic techniques such as IFTAK (Interception of the Fistulous Tract and application of Kshara Sutra), where the proximal part of the tract is intercepted at the level of the external sphincter and a medicated thread (Kshara Sutra) is applied from the site of interception to the infected anal crypt; Fistulotomy with Ksharakarma, which involves unroofing the entire tract up to the internal opening and applying herbal caustics for quick healing, minimal recurrence, and strong fibrosis; and Partial Fistulotomy with Kshara Sutra, where the tract is deroofed up to the sphincter complex and Kshara Sutra is applied from there to the internal opening — an ideal technique for straight transsphincteric fistulas with shorter treatment duration, minimal incontinence, and reduced recurrence.
