According to Bupa's Health information Team, an anal fistula can be a result of an infection, abscess or a disease condition--such as Crohn's--in which the lining of the digestive tract becomes inflamed. SteadyHealth.com further states that if left untreated, an anal fistula may not be able to heal on its own. Many types of fistula repair surgery can be done for patients with anal fistula. All fistula surgeries can develop some complications, although these are often rare and seldom serious.
Infection
Like all other types of surgeries, a fistula surgery poses a risk for developing infections. According to UK National Health Service, there are fistula surgeries that are supposed to be done in stages, so a series of surgeries may be necessary. During this time, it's possible for the patient to incur infections that might also spread to other parts of the body. There are also instances in which the anal fistula isn't completely removed, thus posing a threat for infection. However, localized infections can often be treated through oral or intravenous antibiotic therapy.
Fecal Incontinence
UK National Health Service reports that there are instances in which fistula surgery can damage the anal sphincter muscles. The muscles in the anal sphincter are responsible for muscle control in the anus. They're the ones that open and close the anal canal. Once these muscles become damaged, bowel control may become difficult. Feces or stools might uncontrollably leak from the rectum, a condition known as bowel or fecal incontinence. However, UK National Health Service further states that the likelihood of developing bowel incontinence depends on the type of fistula surgery the patient has undergone, as well as the position of the fistula. Generally speaking, the rate of developing incontinence is highest among people who have undergone specific techniques in fistula surgeries. Also, Steady Health reports that women with Crohn's disease are more at risk for developing bowel incontinence than other people who underwent the same surgery.
Anal Fistula Recurrence
There are times when anal fistula surgeries seem to not have worked, according to UK National Health Service. There are rare cases in which the fistula can recur after the surgery. It further states that the recurrence rate is highest for people who underwent an advancement flap procedure, with a 36 percent recurrence rate. The fistulostomy procedure, a procedure that opens up the fistula, has a slightly lower reoccurrence rate at 21 percent. In general, Surgery Door reports that the chance of fistula recurrence is 10 percent.
