What is a Fistula Plug? Treating anal fistula with anal plug - Dr. Rajasekhar M R | Doctors' Circle

Fistula are nothing but infections of anal glands. In the sphincteric area, there are two sphincters that are controlling the mechanism of continence of the anal canal. So between the sphincters there are few glands that are secreting little secretions into the anal canal. When they get infected there will be infection, then pus will form, what we call as an abscess. Then it will be draining through a small opening through a small duct. That is called as internal opening. When it becomes more and starts pressing the sphincters or in between the sphincters they come and starts discharging pus through a hole, somewhere around the anal canal . That is called as a fistula. So Fistula will have two openings one external and one internal opening and in between that pus will be forming and collecting, so in the process of treatment there are different approaches, when the us is collecting, the pus has to be drained and you cannot close it. So you have to drain it and tackle the cavity in a different way like burning with laser and closing it with the different approaches available fistula plug is one of the method is through the external opening, curette out the tissues which are affecting including the pus and plug it with the compatible material so that it will not once out of the hole and an gradually it will close but it is not as simple mechanical as such because there are biological processes. So the cure rate is not impressive compared to regular other surgical procedure that has been tried and found to be a successful and a useful procedure.