Anorectal fistula

[Tanya Shivari]

An anorectal fistula is an abnormal channel that leads from the anus or rectum usually to the skin near the anus but occasionally to another organ, such as the vagina.

Anorectal fistulas are common among people who have an anorectal abscess, Crohn disease, or tuberculosis.
Anorectal fistulas can cause pain and produce pus.
The diagnosis is based on an examination and other viewing techniques.
Treatment nearly always involves surgery, but some less invasive alternatives now exist.

The rectum is the section of the digestive tract above the anus where stool is held before it passes out of the body through the anus. The anus is the opening at the end of the digestive tract where stool leaves the body. (See also Overview of the Anus and Rectum.)
Most fistulas begin in a deep gland in the wall of the anus or rectum. Sometimes fistulas occur after drainage of an anorectal abscess, but often the cause cannot be identified. Fistulas are more common among people with Crohn disease or tuberculosis. They also occur in people with tumors, diverticulitis, cancer, or an anal or rectal injury. A fistula in an infant is usually a birth defect and is more common among boys than girls.
Fistulas that connect the rectum and vagina (called rectovaginal fistulas) may result from radiation therapy, cancer, Crohn disease, or an injury to a mother during childbirth.