When non-surgical treatment has not successfully healed your anal fissure, your personal physician will refer you to a Glendora General Surgeon for a Lateral Internal Sphincterotomy operation to repair the fissure. During your pre-surgery office visit, the surgeon will examine the procedure site to determine if there is an anal skin tag that may need to be removed during the time of the fissure repair. If no skin tag has developed, then the surgery will only concentrate on the fissure.
You will be given instructions on how to prepare for the surgery, which often includes using a laxative or an enema to clean out your colon the day before the operation, how many hours before surgery you’ll need to stop eating or drinking, if you can or cannot take any prescription medications before surgery, the need to shower before leaving your home for the surgery, and what documents, if any, you need to bring with you.
Lateral Internal Sphincterotomy Surgery
To ensure that you are comfortable during the operation, you will be given either a general anesthetic so that you are asleep throughout the surgery, or you will be given a local anesthetic that will numb the operation site and you will be awake. The type of anesthesia you receive can be determined by a discussion with your surgeon. An IV tube will be put into a vein to allow medications and fluids to be used as needed during the surgery.
Using surgical instruments, your surgeon will stretch or make a small incision in the internal anus sphincter muscle to prevent spasms and to temporarily relax the muscles. The anal fissure, and any scar tissue, are then surgically removed. The surgical instruments are removed, and the incision is closed with stitches that will not need to be removed. The entire operation requires 20 to 30 minutes for completion.
Recovery from Surgery
Before you are discharged, you will be given instructions on how to care for your wound. You may experience post-operative discomfort for a couple of days. Your surgeon will provide you with a pain medication prescription or tell you to take an over-the-counter pain product. A full recovery from a Lateral Internal Sphincterotomy can range from 6 to 8 weeks. Your surgeon will tell you when it will be okay to resume normal daily activities and when you can return to work. You will need to schedule follow up office appointments to monitor your recovery progression.
