Dr. Mohammed Hatem AlsubaihFor education and visit preparation; individual assessment requires a clinical history and examination.
Discuss two outcomes
Fistula healing and preservation of continence both matter. Laying open a simple low tract may be appropriate in selected patients, but muscle division deserves particular caution when more sphincter is involved or control is already impaired.
Record function before treatment
Describe leakage, urgency and difficulty distinguishing gas from stool, along with childbirth injuries and previous operations. Comparing function before and after treatment is more informative than asking only whether an operation succeeded. MRI maps anatomy where indicated; it does not measure continence by itself.
Compare the actual options
Options can include drainage with a loose seton followed by consideration of LIFT or a flap. A loose draining seton differs from a cutting seton. A sphincter-preserving label describes an intention, not a guarantee of healing or unchanged function.
Questions for your appointment
- How much sphincter does the tract involve?
- What increases my continence risk?
- What is the purpose of each treatment stage?