My Anal Fissure and Sphincterotomy Surgery
What is an Anal Fissure?
An anal fissure is a tear in the skin of the anal muscle. When this happens, I may have pain during bowel movement and pass stool with blood.
What is a Sphincterotomy?
Sphincterotomy is a surgical operation to allows a fissure or piles to heal. A small part of the anal sphincter muscle is cut to open the anal canal. This relieves pressure when I move my bowels and allows a fissure to heal.
Preparation Before Surgery:
An important part of preparing for surgery is emptying my stomach. I need to buy 1 bottle - Magnesium Citrate 10 oz. and 2 Fleets Phosphate enemas. You can buy these at a pharmacy. You do not need a prescription.
Eat lightly for breakfast and lunch.
Drink only clear liquids after lunch until midnight (I may drink as much as I want). Examples of clear liquids :
- Soup
- Juice without pulp: grape, apple or cranberry
- Water
- Carbonated beverages, clear sodas
- Weak coffee or tea, no milk or creamer, sugar or substitute okay
At 2 pm, drink Magnesium Citrate 5 oz. (1 bottle).
I showered after every bowel movement.
I continued to drink only clear liquids until midnight.
The morning of surgery, before I come to the hospital, give myself the first enema 1? hours before I leave home.
I gave myself the second enema 1 hour before I leave home. Shower after results of the second enema.
Food to Avoid
- No alcoholic beverages of any kind
- Chips
- Peanuts
- No dairy products of any kind
After SurgeryRectal Care
- Abstain hard wiping of the anal area for the first few days. Do not use toilet paper, instead, use alcohol-free baby wipes.
- Take a sitz bath at least 3-4 times a day and after each bowel movement. This will help reduce the pain of rectal spasms and aid healing. Sit in a bathtub of warm water for 10-20 minutes.
- I need to take a stool softener and laxative such as Metamucil to prevent constipation, while on pain medicine.
- I will have reddish-yellow drainage from the rectum for at least 7-14 days. I will need mini-pads or sanitary pads for my undergarments during this time. The drainage will reduce in amount and become lighter in color.
- With bowel movements and increased activity I may notice an increase of bloody drainage.
Activities
- For the first 6 weeks, do not lift more than 10 pounds. Lifting puts extra strain on the surgical area and increases the chances of bleeding.
- Abstain sitting or standing for longer than 1 hour at a time.
- Do not drive while on narcotic pain medicine.
- Sexual activity may be resumed when I am comfortable.
- Check with my doctor before returning to work.
- I will return to see my surgeon 1 - 3 weeks after surgery.
Pain Medicine
Do not drink alcoholic beverages, drive a car or operate machinery while I am on the prescribed pain medicine.
My doctor ordered pain medicine for me.
Constipation
Both a fiber supplement and a stool softener will be ordered for me.
I should prevent constipation while I am taking pain medicine.
These will help the stool pass more easily.
Diet
Eat a well-balanced, high fiber diet each day:
- At least 4 portions of fruits and vegetables.
- At least 4 portions of breads and cereals (2 of these should be whole grain).
- 8-10 (8 oz) glasses of non-caffeinated fluid.
When to Call the Doctor
- Incontinence (unable to control bowel movements).
- Foul-smelling discharge.
- Trouble passing urine.
- Excessive swelling in the rectal area.
- Breaking open of suture line.
- Big amounts of blood from the rectum that does not stop with pressure to the rectum for 10 minutes.
- Temperature over 100.4º F for 2 readings taken 4 hours apart.
- Take my temperature once a day for a week.