Anal fissure

Infobox_Disease
Name = PAGENAME


Caption =
DiseasesDB = 673
ICD10 = ICD10|K|60|0|k|55-ICD10|K|60|2|k|55
ICD9 = ICD9|565.0
ICDO =
OMIM =
MedlinePlus = 001130
eMedicineSubj = med
eMedicineTopic = 3532
eMedicine_mult = eMedicine2|ped|2938 eMedicine2|emerg|495 | An anal fissure is an unnatural crack or tear in the anus skin. As a fissure, these tiny tears may show as bright red rectal bleeding and cause severe periodic pain after defecation.Gott M.D., Peter H. (March 5, 1998) The Fresno Bee "New thearpy coming for anal fissures." Section:Life; Page E2] The tear usually extends from the anal opening and located posteriorly in the midline. This location is probably because of the relatively unsupported nature of the anal wall in that location.

Causes

Most anal fissures are caused by stretching of the anal mucosa beyond its capability. Many acute anal fissures will heal spontaneously. Some fissures become chronic and will not heal. The most common cause for this is spasm of the internal anal sphincter muscle. This spasm causes poor blood flow to the anal mucosa, hence producing an ulcer which does not heal since it is deprived of normal blood supply. Anal fissures are common in women after childbirth [cite journal |author=Abramowitz L, Sobhani I, Benifla JL, "et al" |title=Anal fissure and thrombosed external hemorrhoids before and after delivery, |journal=Dis. Colon Rectum |volume=45 |issue=5 |pages=650–5 |year=2002 |pmid=12004215|doi=10.1007/s10350-004-6262-5] , excessive anal intercourse ^{[need citation]} , after difficult bowel movements and in infants following constipation. [cite journal |author=Martínez-Costa C, Palao Ortuño MJ, Alfaro Ponce B, "et al" |title= [Functional constipation: prospective study and treatment response] |language=Spanish; Castilian |journal=Anales de pediatría (Barcelona, Spain) |volume=63 |issue=5 |pages=418–25 |year=2005 |pmid=16266617 |doi=]

Prevention

In infants under one year old, frequent nappy/diaper change can prevent anal fissure. For adults, the following can help prevent fissure:

*Treating constipation by eating food rich in dietary fiber, avoiding caffeine (which can increase constipation) , [ Basson, Marc D. , "Constipation" emedicine [http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic2833.htm] ] drinking a lot of water and taking stool softener.
*Treating diarrhea promptly.
*Lubricating the anal canal with a water-based lubrication before inserting anything into the anal canal (petroleum jelly is not recommended because it can harbor harmful bacteria).
*Avoiding straining or prolonged sitting on the toilet.
*Using a moist wipe instead of perfumed and harsh toilet paper.
*Keeping the anus dry and hygienic.
*When using Analpram (cream) do not use the dispenser which can injure the area. Instead use a finger to insert a pea size amount of cream.

Treatment

For many years up until 1995, customary treatment included warm baths, topical anesthetics, stool bulking agents, mechanical anal stretching, and, sometimes, surgery. In 1995, doctors began using nitroglycerine cream (topical 1 percent isosorbide dinitrate) but found it less acceptable for long-term use due to patients developing a tolerance to the drug. In 1998, Italian researchers reported injecting botulinum toxin into the anal sphincter to promote healing by relieving anal spasm through relaxation of the muscle.

ymptomatic

Most anal fissures are shallow or superficial (less than a quarter of inch or 0.64 cm deep). These fissures self-heal within a couple of weeks. Furthermore, treatment used for hemorrhoid such as eating a high-fiber diet, using stool softener, taking pain killer and having a sitz bath can help.

Pediatric

Anal fissures in infants usually self-heal without anything more than frequently changing diapers and treating constipation if the cause.

Chemical sphincterotomy

Painful deep chronic fissures, on the other hand, will not heal because of poor blood supply caused by sphincter spasm. Traditionally surgical operations were required which are both painful and associated with various longterm complications, particularly incontinence in a small proportion of cases. Local application of medications to relax the sphincter muscle, thus allowing the healing to proceed, was first proposed in 1994 with nitroglycerine ointment, [cite journal |author=Loder P, Kamm M, Nicholls R, Phillips R |title='Reversible chemical sphincterotomy' by local application of glyceryl trinitrate |journal=Br J Surg |volume=81 |issue=9 |pages=1386–9 |year=1994 |pmid=7953427 |doi=10.1002/bjs.1800810949] [cite journal |author=Watson S, Kamm M, Nicholls R, Phillips R |title=Topical glyceryl trinitrate in the treatment of chronic anal fissure |journal=Br J Surg |volume=83 |issue=6 |pages=771–5 |year=1996 |pmid=8696736 |doi=10.1002/bjs.1800830614] [cite journal | author = Simpson J, Lund J, Thompson R, Kapila L, Scholefield J | title = The use of glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) in the treatment of chronic anal fissure in children | journal = Med Sci Monit | volume = 9 | issue = 10 | pages = PI123–6 | year = 2003 | pmid = 14523338] and then calcium channel blockers with in 1999 nifedipine ointment, [cite journal |author=Antropoli C, Perrotti P, Rubino M, Martino A, De Stefano G, Migliore G, Antropoli M, Piazza P |title=Nifedipine for local use in conservative treatment of anal fissures: preliminary results of a multicenter study |journal=Dis Colon Rectum |volume=42 |issue=8 |pages=1011–5 |year=1999 |pmid=10458123 |doi=10.1007/BF02236693] [cite journal |author=Katsinelos P, Kountouras J, Paroutoglou G, Beltsis A, Chatzimavroudis G, Zavos C, Katsinelos T, Papaziogas B |title=Aggressive treatment of acute anal fissure with 0.5% nifedipine ointment prevents its evolution to chronicity |journal=World J Gastroenterol |volume=12 |issue=38 |pages=6203–6 |year=2006 |pmid=17036396| url=http://www.wjgnet.com/1007-9327/12/6203.asp] and the following year with topical diltiazem. [cite journal |author=Carapeti E, Kamm M, Phillips R |title=Topical diltiazem and bethanechol decrease anal sphincter pressure and heal anal fissures without side effects |journal=Dis. Colon Rectum |volume=43 |issue=10 |pages=1359–62 |year=2000 |pmid=11052511 |doi=10.1007/BF02236630] Branded preparations are now available of topical nitroglycerine ointment (Rectogesic as 0.2% in Australia and 0.4% in UK) and diltiazem 2% (Anoheal in UK although still in Phase III development).

Botulinum toxin injection, administered by colorectal surgeons, can also be used to relax the sphincter muscle and its use for this condition was first investigated in 1993. [cite journal |author=Jost W, Schimrigk K |title=Use of botulinum toxin in anal fissure |journal=Dis Colon Rectum |volume=36 |issue=10 |pages=974 |year=1993 |pmid=8404394 |doi=10.1007/BF02050639] Combination of medical therapies may offer up to 98% cure rates, [cite journal |author=Tranqui P, Trottier D, Victor C, Freeman J |title=Nonsurgical treatment of chronic anal fissure: nitroglycerin and dilatation versus nifedipine and botulinum toxin |journal=Canadian journal of surgery. Journal canadien de chirurgie |volume=49 |issue=1 |pages=41–5 |year=2006 |pmid=16524142 |url=http://www.cma.ca/multimedia/staticContent/HTML/N0/l2/cjs/vol-49/issue-1/pdf/pg41.pdf |format=PDF] These medical treatments are used as first line therapy in treating chronic anal fissures, [cite journal |author=Haq Z, Rahman M, Chowdhury R, Baten M, Khatun M |title=Chemical sphincterotomy--first line of treatment for chronic anal fissure |journal=Mymensingh Med J |volume=14 |issue=1 |pages=88–90 |year=2005 |pmid=15695964] although a Cochrane Collaboration review of published research has questioned the effectiveness of medical treatments compared to surgery. [cite journal |author=Nelson R |title=Non surgical therapy for anal fissure |journal=Cochrane database of systematic reviews (Online) |volume= |issue=4 |pages=CD003431 |year=2006 |pmid=17054170 |doi=10.1002/14651858.CD003431.pub2]

urgical sphincterotomy

Surgical intervention may be required for persisting deep anal fissures unresponsive to the above conservative measures. Procedures include:
* Lateral internal sphincterotomy or excising a portion of the sphincter
* Anal dilation or stretching of the anal canal is no longer recommended because of the unacceptably high incidence of fecal incontinence. [cite journal |author=Kotlarewsky M, Freeman JB, Cameron W, Grimard LJ |title=Anal intraepithelial dysplasia and squamous carcinoma in immunosuppressed patients |journal=Canadian journal of surgery. Journal canadien de chirurgie |volume=44 |issue=6 |pages=450–4 |year=2001 |pmid=11764880 |doi= |url=http://www.cma.ca/multimedia/staticContent/HTML/N0/l2/cjs/vol-44/issue-6/pdf/pg450.pdf |format=PDF] In addition, anal stretching can increase the rate of flatus incontinence. [cite journal |author=Sadovsky R |title=Diagnosis and management of patients with anal fissures - Tips from Other Journals |journal=American Family Physician |year=2003 |month=1 April |volume=67 | issue=7 |pages=1608 |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3225/is_7_67/ai_99410474 |format=Reprint]

Despite the high success rate of these surgical procedures (~95%), there are potential side effects, which include: risks from anesthesia, infection and anal leakage (fecal incontinence).

References

External links

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