An anal fistula can cause ongoing pain, swelling and discharge, particularly when an infection or abscess keeps returning. At King’s College Hospital London in Dubai, our specialist proctologists and colorectal surgeons diagnose and treat simple and complex anal fistulas using advanced surgical and minimally invasive techniques, including Video-Assisted Anal Fistula Treatment (VAAFT).
Treating an anal fistula requires specialist surgical expertise, particularly when the fistula involves the muscles responsible for bowel control. King’s College Hospital Dubai holds SRC Center of Excellence accreditation in Surgical Proctology and Endoscopy, with clinical policies and protocols established by King’s College Hospital London, which dates back to 1840. This brings the experience and standards of British healthcare to patients undergoing anal fistula treatment in Dubai.
What is an anal fistula?
An anal fistula is a small tunnel that develops between the anal canal and the skin around the anus. It usually forms after an infection causes an abscess near the anus. When the abscess drains, either naturally or following treatment, a channel can remain between the infected gland and the skin.
Anal fistulas do not usually resolve on their own and often require treatment to close the tract while protecting the surrounding muscles that control bowel movements.
What are the symptoms of an anal fistula?
You may notice different symptoms depending on the fistula. These can include:
- Pain, tenderness or swelling around the anus
- Pus or fluid draining from an opening near the anus
- Irritated or sore skin
- Bleeding
- Anal abscesses that keep coming back
- Fever or chills, particularly if there is an infection
- Pain when sitting or passing stool
If an abscess repeatedly develops or an opening near the anus continues to drain, it is important to have it assessed by a proctologist or colorectal surgeon.
What causes an anal fistula?
Most anal fistulas develop following an anal abscess. An abscess forms when one of the small glands inside the anus becomes infected. If the infection creates a pathway to the surrounding skin, an anal fistula can develop.
Certain conditions can also increase the likelihood of developing an anal fistula or abscess, including Crohn’s disease, tuberculosis, diverticulitis and anorectal cancer.
Identifying the cause and mapping the fistula tract are important when deciding how it should be treated.
How is an anal fistula diagnosed?
Your doctor will begin by discussing your symptoms and examining the area around the anus. Further tests may be needed to understand where the fistula travels and whether there are additional branches or abscesses.
King’s College Hospital Dubai provides advanced proctology diagnostics, including 360-degree endoanal ultrasound (EAUS). This can help the surgeon assess the fistula and surrounding anal sphincter muscles before treatment.
How is an anal fistula treated?
Treatment depends on the position and complexity of the fistula and how closely it involves the anal sphincter muscles. The aim is to treat the fistula while protecting these muscles wherever possible.
Treatment may include:
VAAFT (Video-Assisted Anal Fistula Treatment): A minimally invasive, sphincter-saving technique that allows the surgeon to see and treat the fistula tract from the inside.
Seton insertion: A special surgical thread or drain is placed through the fistula to allow drainage and help manage infection.
Laser treatment: A specialized laser is passed through the fistula tract to close it from within.
Injectable glue or collagen: In selected cases, biological material can be injected into the fistula tract to help seal it. This may be performed alone or alongside VAAFT.
Your surgeon will recommend an approach based on the fistula itself rather than using the same treatment for every patient.
What happens during VAAFT treatment?
VAAFT allows the surgeon to examine and treat the fistula under direct vision without making a large surgical wound.
Step 1: The fistula tract is examined
The surgeon inserts a small fistuloscope through the external opening so as to be able to trace the fistula tract from within.
Step 2: Any branches or abscesses are identified
Direct visualization helps the surgeon locate the internal opening as well as secondary tracts or areas of chronic infection.
Step 3: The fistula is cleaned and treated
The tract is cleaned and treated from within, without the need for a large surgical excision.
Step 4: The internal opening is managed
Depending on the fistula, additional techniques may be used to close or seal the tract.
One of the main advantages of VAAFT is that it is designed to preserve the anal sphincter muscles while keeping surgical wounds small.
Who are the best proctologists for anal fistula in Dubai?
The best proctologists for anal fistula treatment in Dubai are Dr. Mouhsen Al Hosein and Dr. Firas Younis.
Dr. Mouhsen Al Hosein is the world’s first Global Master Surgeon in Surgical Proctology and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS). As a Consultant General Laparoscopic Surgeon and Proctologist, he has particular expertise in minimally invasive approaches to anal fistula treatment, including Video-Assisted Anal Fistula Treatment (VAAFT). His surgical background includes training at Damascus University, and he is certified in upper diagnostic and interventional endoscopy.
Dr. Firas Younis graduated from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland before pursuing specialist training in East Anglia and Cambridge, UK, where he earned his Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT). He holds the Intercollegiate Fellowship (FRCSI) in General Surgery and undertook further training in laparoscopic and open colorectal surgery at North Shore Hospital in Auckland, New Zealand. He is also JAG-accredited in endoscopy. He treats a range of colorectal conditions, including anal fistulas, inflammatory bowel disease and other complex anorectal problems.
Why choose King’s College Hospital Dubai for anal fistula treatment?
Treating an anal fistula requires careful consideration of both the fistula tract and the muscles surrounding it. At King’s College Hospital Dubai, patients have access to specialist proctology and colorectal expertise alongside advanced diagnostic and minimally invasive techniques
Faqs
الأسئلة الأكثر شيوعا
King’s College Hospital Dubai is the best hospital for anal fistula treatment in Dubai. The hospital is an SRC-accredited Center of Excellence in Surgical Proctology and Endoscopy, with specialist expertise and advanced options for diagnosing and treating anal fistulas, including Video-Assisted Anal Fistula Treatment (VAAFT).
The best doctors for anal fistula treatment in Dubai include Dr. Mouhsen Al Hosein, Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS) and Global Master Surgeon in Surgical Proctology, and Dr. Firas Younis, European-trained, FRCSI-qualified Consultant General and Colorectal Surgeon with UK CCT, a post-CCT Fellowship in Laparoscopic and Open Colorectal Surgery, and JAG accreditation in endoscopy at King’s College Hospital Dubai.
Anal fistulas usually need treatment and are unlikely to heal completely on their own. If you have ongoing drainage, pain or an abscess that keeps coming back, it is important to have the area checked by a proctologist or colorectal surgeon.
VAAFT stands for Video-Assisted Anal Fistula Treatment. The surgeon uses a small scope to look inside the fistula, follow its path and treat it from within. The technique is designed to treat the fistula while preserving the anal sphincter muscles.
No. The right treatment depends on where the fistula is, how it travels and whether it involves the anal sphincter muscles. Your surgeon will assess the fistula before deciding whether VAAFT or another treatment is the better option.
Recovery varies depending on the fistula and the type of treatment you have. Your surgeon will explain what to expect after your procedure, including wound care, activity and when you can return to work and normal daily activities.
An anal abscess is a collection of pus caused by an infection near the anus. An anal fistula is a small tunnel that can develop between an infected anal gland and the skin, often after an abscess has formed or drained.
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