At Bumrungrad International Hospital, anal fistulas are treated by our highly experienced specialists, with two main goals in mind: achieving complete recovery and preserving normal bowel control.

Anal fistulas are abscesses that occur around the anus. They appear as red, swollen bumps that leak pus. Usually, they are caused by an infection, blockage, or inflammation from bacteria in the anal glands. If left untreated, they may spread to other organs in the vicinity. Moreover, anal fistulas can occur in people of all ages—from newborns to the elderly. However, they are most common in men between the ages of 20 and 40.

Global statistics show that anal fistulas occur in approximately 20 out of 100,000 people each year. A major challenge in treating this condition is that treatment often does not result in complete recovery, leading to recurrence. Additionally, surgery involving the sphincter muscle can cause complications, such as incomplete fecal retention.

Many patients are often too embarrassed to seek prompt medical attention when symptoms first appear. Some patients even wait until the abscess bursts or begins leaking pus, mistakenly believing the condition has resolved on its own. However, without proper treatment from an experienced doctor, the condition will likely recur. Other patients may worry that surgical treatment for anal fistulas could lead to fecal incontinence. At Bumrungrad International Hospital, the focus is on surgical interventions that preserve the sphincter and require only small incisions. Usually, this type of surgery requires a short recovery period of just one night in hospital. It also costs less because the incision is closed, and does not require further postoperative care at the hospital.

Arun Rojanasakul, MD, Professor Emeritus, colorectal surgeon at Bumrungrad International Hospital, the inventor of the Ligation of Intersphincteric Fistula Tract (LIFT) technique, which is currently widely used by doctors around the world—particularly for cases where the fistula extends deeply through the sphincter muscle. Since the LIFT technique does not involve cutting the sphincter, patients can be confident that, after surgery, they will typically regain normal fecal continence in nearly all cases.

At the Colorectal Surgery Center at Bumrungrad International Hospital, our colorectal surgeons bring over 20 years of experience in treating anal fistulas. In 2023, our team treated 325 cases of anal fistulas, achieving a recurrence rate of 16.99% for complex cases—well below the standard recurrence rate in the United States, which is typically under 25%. For simple fistula cases, the Colorectal Surgery Center at Bumrungrad International Hospital achieved an impressive recurrence rate of 2.91%, which is also better than the US standard of less than 5%. Additionally, our patients experienced no postoperative complications or issues which fecal incontinence following treatment.

For more information about treatment, please contact the Colorectal Surgery Center at Bumrungrad International Hospital, located on the 3rd floor of Building B. You can also reach us by calling +66 2 211 2351 or the 1378 hotline.