Post-Op Care for Fistula Surgery
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Surgery
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Fistula removal surgery is fairly quick and simple. First, your colorectal surgeon will snip the tissue connection. He will then connect the two ends of the tunnel to themselves, creating a small flap of circular tissue that will heal itself and be absorbed by surrounding tissue.
Post-op Medication
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You may feel discomfort or dull pain for a week following surgery; ask your doctor for mild pain medication to alleviate these symptoms. Your doctor may also prescribe stool softeners to ease bowel movements for a few days. This can help avoid painful defecation as the sphincter area heals from the surgery.
Post-op Procedures
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For about a week after surgery, soak the affected area three to four times a day in a warm bath. This can be a normal bath or a sitz bath. A sitz bath is specifically intended for recovery from this kind of procedure. Simply sit in a small tub of warm water for 20 to 30 minutes, allowing the water to cover your hips entirely. Slight drainage may continue to occur for a few days after surgery; wear a small pad of gauze under the affected area to avoid damaging your clothes.
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