Surgery for abscesses and fistulae

About a quarter of adults with Crohn's disease need surgery for a fistulaAn abnormal channel between a hollow organ and either another hollow organ, or the outside of the body. or abscessInfection resulting in a collection of pus walled off by inflamed tissues..

An abscessInfection resulting in a collection of pus walled off by inflamed tissues. can sometimes be drained through a needle guided to the abscessInfection resulting in a collection of pus walled off by inflamed tissues. using computerised tomographyA scan that generates a series of cross-sectional X-ray images. (CTA scan that generates a series of cross-sectional X-ray images.) scanning. Surgery may be needed to drain the contents of the abscessInfection resulting in a collection of pus walled off by inflamed tissues..

Fistulae are initially treated with medication, but may need surgery if they fail to respond. This usually involves resection of the affected parts of the intestines followed by anastomosis, joining the two healthy ends of intestineThe section of gut, or gastrointestinal tract, from the stomach to the anus. together.

 

In my final year at university, I developed a fistulaAn abnormal channel between a hollow organ and either another hollow organ, or the outside of the body. near the end of my intestinal tract. This is where the faeces tunnels out to the surface of the skin. It resulted in a massive perianal abscessInfection resulting in a collection of pus walled off by inflamed tissues. right next to my anusThe external opening of the back passage, the rectum. that refused to heal up with antibioticsMedication to treat infections caused by microbes (organisms that can't be seen with the naked eye), such as bacteria.. Surgery was the only option.

 

Azmina