A lateral sphincterotomy is a surgical procedure that is performed when a torn muscle in the anus is not healed. The condition is called anal fissure. Although the procedure can be done in outpatient settings, it is still important that you follow strictly pre-operation advices and recommendations from your attending doctor. Know that either a local or a general anesthesia may be administered to you.
Generally, your surgical doctor performs a cut on the internal anal sphincter. This is a tissue that promotes muscle movement of the anus. During the incision, the internal anal sphincter is put under a lot of pressure. That is why it is crucial that you have a doctor that knows what he is really doing.
Look for an experienced doctor. A recommendation from friends and family would really be helpful. The doctor makes sure not to put too much pressure on the internal anal sphincter or he’ll bruise the anal muscle. When that happens, the muscles take a long time to heal or probably will not, thus, running the risk of infection and other complications. The cut must not only be given less pressure to heal but also time. These two factors are crucial to the complete healing of the patient. This surgery, however, does not close the actual wound in the anus. Let that get healed on its own as a direct result of the procedure.
According to statistics, lateral sphincterotomy has healed far more cases of anal fissure than any medicine drug has. The rate of success varies from patient to patient though, and understandably so since each person reacts differently to each type of treatment. There are side effects to the procedure. One notable side effect is the uncontrollable release of bodily gas and stool. The patient should be made aware of these side effects as well as the family. Doing so helps the patient understand the prevailing condition of his body after the procedure and also the family will know what to do to help the patient during the recuperation stage.
Most people who underwent a similar procedure, according to a recent study, are mostly satisfied. Only about 8 percent of them experienced unpleasant side effects after the procedure. Most of the side effects only last for a few days.
To prepare for this operation, read medical journals for additional information. Talk to your doctor about your options. He should be able to explain to you the pros and cons of undergoing the procedure. Your doctor should also advise and brief you on in advance about the procedure. You will be given options and enough time to decide on it.
Talking this one out with your family will also help as there would be things that need to be decided with them or with the head of the family. Check if the procedure can be covered by your medical insurance provider. It will be really helpful if it is because this minimizes some of the cost. A preliminary test will be performed by your doctor before recommending the procedure.
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