An anorectal condition can be difficult to live with and often remains undiagnosed, due to it being perceived as an embarrassing ailment. Fistulas are conditions where two body parts, that are not meant to be connected, become linked as part of the disorder. Rectal fistulas can be painful and standard treatments are available, which can cure the condition. However, these treatments come with serious side effects.

Most people prefer Ayurvedic fistula treatments over the conventional medications for the lack of side effects as such. Ksar sutra is one such branch of treatment in Ayurveda, which has shown tremendous results against fistulas. Here is a look at all that you need to know about Kshar Sutra.

What does Kshar Sutra mean?
Kshar Sutra is a form of treatment, which uses threads laced with the juices of medicinal herbs to treat rectal fistulas.  Kshar  refers to the herbs and  Sutra  stands for the thread used for the treatment. It is a minimally invasive surgical procedure with almost no side effect or danger. The Kshar Sutra form of treatment was first discovered by Sushruta, Vagbhata and Charak. In recent times, BHU s Shalya Tantra Department has once again proved its efficacy in case of rectal disorders.

How is the treatment done?
Once the thread has been coated with the medicinal herbs, the same thread needs to be inserted into the fistula in ano. The patient is anaesthetized and the thread is inserted into the fistula using a probe. The thread is then taken out from the other side and the two ends of the thread are tied together. This thread is changed after every 7 days. This thread insertion effectively cuts the tract and unhealthy tissue is removed from the region.

Why is Kshar Sutra beneficial?
Benefits for this form of treatment include-

Lower risk of anal incontinence, which may occur in case of conventional medicine and surgery.
Lower risk of the anal canal getting narrower after the treatment is completed.
Minimally invasive treatment, which is why patients can resume normal life after just 3-4 days of recovery.
Apart from the treatment, patients should also follow a diet rich in fibre, fruits and vegetables. Drinking large quantities of water will also result in a better prognosis. Lastly, engaging in daily walks will also help you deal with the condition. 

Ksharsutra in the Treatment of Fistula in Ano, Anorectal Disorders!

AV or arterio-venous fistulas are unusual linkages between arteries and veins. In general, pure blood passes from the arteries to the capillaries to the veins and becomes devoid of nutrients and oxygen (becomes  impure ) by the time it reaches the veins. The capillaries in between absorb the nutrients, to supply them to the tissues and organs lying beneath them. In the case of AV fistulas, the capillaries are bypassed and blood passes directly between the arteries and the veins. Thus, organs are deprived of nutrients.

This can be a severe condition, leading even to heart failure.

AV fistulas and dialysis

Sometimes, AV fistulas have to be deliberately created on the body, to treat for severe kidney ailments requiring dialysis.

What is the surgical procedure for creation of AV fistulas for dialysis?

Following are the steps-

  A vascular specialist checks your arteries and veins to make sure they are sturdy enough to be able to support an AV fistula.
  Then, with the help of wave techniques or an angiogram, the depth of your blood vessels is recorded.
  Anaesthesia is then used on the spot, which is chosen for your AV fistula. Local anaesthesia (anaesthesia of only that spot) is preferred over central anaesthesia (anaesthesia of the whole body).
  With the help of a small cut on the skin surface, the surgeon accesses your blood vessels and makes a connection between arteries and veins.

After this process is completed, dialysis takes usually some weeks to begin.

Why should you go for AV fistula?

Following are the advantages-

  Foreign chemicals or devices, which may cause invasion and damage to vital internal organs, are not introduced in your body.
  As only local anaesthesia is administered, you have to spend significantly less recovery time or  downtime  after surgery.
  There is less chance of the wound becoming infected.
  There is a reduced danger of clotting.

AV fistulas are in essence an unusual connection between your arteries and veins, leading to undernourished organs due to capillaries being bypassed. In some cases like dialysis, AV fistulas need to be created and closely monitored. There are several advantages to this, but you will also need recovery time after the procedure is over.

AV Fistula - Its Surgery & Creation Of AV Fistula For Dialysis!

Anal fissure is a condition that is caused when the skin surrounding the anus tears due to excessive strain. Generally, constipation causes the condition, as people have to put a lot of strain during bowel movements. Here is a look at some simple ways to prevent anal fissure.

Natural Ways to Prevent Anal Fissure-
Since the primary cause for anal fissure is constipation, the preventative methods involve reducing constipation.

Increasing fibre content in the diet, with the help of fruits and vegetables can help against constipation.
Staying hydrated and drinking plenty of fluids throughout the day, can also ease stool passage and make it softer.
Avoid straining excessively during bowel movement.
Avoiding spicy foods and chillies in the diet is vital, as such foods can aggravate the difficulty during defecation.
Avoid eating excessive meat and non-vegetarian products.
Drinking buttermilk can also provide relief from the constipation.
Ayurvedic Remedy for Anal Fissure-
Medications for the condition include both oral remedies, which deal with the underlying constipation, as well as topical medicines that can be applied at the site of the problem. Two main Ayurvedic treatment for anal fissure include-

Kshar sutra ligation: In this specialized procedure, a string is attached around the affected region. However, before the string is tied, it is coated in a mixture of healing herbs and natural products. After the string is tied tightly, the benign tissue falls off after 5-10 days. The underlying tissue also gets repaired in a couple of weeks.
Sitz bath: Another easy and effective Ayurvedic remedy for anal fissure is to fill warm water inside a tub. Add a splash of antiseptic liquid in the water and sit inside the tub in such a manner that the anus and buttocks remain submerged in the water. This treatment reduces the pain and discomfort associated with the diseases and keeps the anus hygienic.

Anal Fissure - Ayurvedic Treatment Options For It! 

An Anal fistula (also known as fistula-in-ano) is a small tunnel that can develop between anal canal and the skin near the anus often resulting from an untreated or inadequately treated perianal abscess. No medicinal treatment shows complete cure of anal fistula except few conditions like tubercular fistula. Early surgery, short & straight fistula tract and anal fistula treatment with ksharasutra give promising results with high rate of success.

Fast facts on Anal fistula:

Essentially surgical intervention required.
Recurrence is common.
Should be planned for surgery as early as possible, late cases are mostly complicated.
Anal fistula treatment with ksharasutra shows high rate of success.
What Causes Anal fistula?

Abscess in buttock and/or around the anus.
Long standing anal fissure.
Traumatic injury to the perianal region.
Tuberculosis.
Crohn s disease.
AIDS.
Not maintaining local hygiene.
What are the symptoms of Anal fistula?

Discharging wound at perianal region or buttock which is repeatedly swelling, discharging some amount of pus and/or blood and resolving. The swelling is often associated with pain and fever.
There may be single or multiple wounds.
Passing of flatus through the tunnel like wound.
Anal fistula is notoriously famous for its recurrence even after repeated surgery. An anal sphincter sparing or minimal invasive surgery should always be the choice of patient as well as surgeon. Two stage seton fistulotomy and multistage anal fistula treatment with ksharasutra have shown promising result with lowest rate of reported recurrence and complications like incontinence of stool.

Benefits of treatment with ksharasutra:

Very less incidence of recurrence.
Least chance of post operative stool incontinence.
Minimal invasive procedure.
Minimal blood lost.
Cutting of tract and its healing goes on simultaneously.
Can be performed in elderly patients.
Can be performed in diabetic patients.
Less hospital stay
Patient can continue normal life after a sitting of ksharasutra replacement.

Anal Fistula - Know The Symptoms & Ayurvedic Treatments For It!

An abnormal junction or connection between two organs or tissues is referred to as a  fistula . It targets two hollow organs, vessels, or tissue structures. It occurs mostly in the rectum, vagina, however can affect the intestines and the eyes too. It results in extreme pain, discomfort and should be treated as immediately as possible to prevent infection.

It can induce sensations of:

Extreme irritation or itching
Discharge with unusual odor (if the fistula is located near the anus/vagina)
Irritable bowel syndrome
Excess pus
High body temperature
Blood discharge
Diagnosis
In case or prolonged tension and pain in these areas, a proctoscopy should be conducted for diagnosis. It most commonly occurs in women who have sustained prolonged labor (over 2-3 days). However, other causes include:

Digestive malfunction
Abscesses(formation of pus in hollow organs)
An unhealthy lifestyle which includes excessive indulgence in alcohol and tobacco

Ayurvedic treatment for fistulas are available which aim to sooth the inflammation by slowly remedying the wound through natural and safe measures. Since Ayurvedic practices are non-toxic, non invasive and completely safe, one can avoid the drastic measures that surgery consists of, and also avoid the side effects of medicines.

Ayurvedic remedies of fistulas include
Ayurvedic doctors have developed several oils, ointments and medications that are readily available in the market. The medications usually consist of a mixture of herbs, roots and plants that aim to restore the physical systems and also soothe the affected area.

The importance of buttermilk added with rock salt and black pepper also allows the enzymes of our body to multiply and thereby cure the fistulas internally.
Radish juice with a pinch of cumin is also recommended to be consumed after meals to improve digestion and empower the immune system.
A healthy lifestyle and fitness routine consisting of yoga and exercises also contribute to improve conditions in the patient by facilitating blood circulation and metabolism.

Fistula - Treating It With Ayurveda!

An anal fistula, is also called as fistula- in -ano, it is a small channel that develops between the end of the large intestine called the anal canal and the skin near the anus. This is a painful condition, especially when the patient is passing stools. It can also cause bleeding and discharge during defecation.

Genesis of fistula-in-ano
Almost all anal fistulae occur due to an anorectal abscess that begins as an infection in one of the anal glands. This infection spreads down to the skin around the anus causing fistula-in -ano. The anorectal abscess usually leads to pain and swelling around the anus, along with fever. Treatment for anorectal abscess involves incising the skin over the abscess to drain the pus. This is done usually under local anesthesia. A fistula-in-ano happens when there is failure of the anorectal abscess wound to heal completely. Almost 50% of patients with an abscess go on to develop a chronic fistula-in-ano.

Symptoms

Pain- Constant pain which gets worse when sitting down
Irritation around the anus, like swelling, redness and tenderness
Discharge of blood or pus
Constipation or pain while evacuation
Fever
Diagnosis
A clinical evaluation, including a digital rectal examination under anesthesia, is carried out to diagnose anal fistula. However, few patients may be advised screening for rectal cancer, sexually transmitted diseases and diverticular disease.

Treatment
The only cure for an anal fistula is surgery. The type of surgery will depend on the position of the anal fistula. Most patients are treated by simply laying open the fistula tract to flush out pus, called Fistulotomy. This type is used in 85-95% of cases and the fistula tract heals after one to two months.

Seton techniques: A seton is a piece of thread (silk, plastic) which is left in the fistula tract to treat anal fissures. This is used if a patient is at high risk of developing incontinence after fistulotomy.
Advancement flap procedures: When the fistula is considered complex, carrying a high risk of incontinence, then this advanced technique is used.
Other techniques like Fibrin glue and Bioprosthetic plug are also used to surgically treat anal fistulas. In the Fibrin glue technique, glue is injected into the fistula to seal the tract, after which the opening is stitch closed. Bioprosthetic plug is a cone shaped plug made from human tissue, which is used to block the internal opening of the fistula. After this stitches are used to keep the plug in place. 

Whatever the surgical technique, one can experience minor changes in continence. Patients usually don t require antibiotics after surgery but have to take pain medication. They may also have to use gauze to soak up drainage from anus. After surgery, patients should seek help if they have increased pain or swelling, heavy bleeding, difficulty in urination, high temperature, nausea or constipation.

Fistula-in-Ano or Anal Fistula - How It Can Be Treated?

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