{"id":5249,"date":"2025-02-25T07:30:46","date_gmt":"2025-02-25T07:30:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.apollohospitals.com\/region\/mumbai\/letstalkhealth\/?p=5249"},"modified":"2025-02-25T07:33:10","modified_gmt":"2025-02-25T07:33:10","slug":"vaaft-a-minimally-invasive-solution-for-fistula-in-ano","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.apollohospitals.com\/region\/mumbai\/letstalkhealth\/general-surgery\/vaaft-a-minimally-invasive-solution-for-fistula-in-ano\/","title":{"rendered":"VAAFT: A Minimally Invasive Solution for Fistula-in-Ano"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Verified by <\/em>Dr Nitish Jhawar \u2013 Sr. Consultant General Surgery & Robotic Surgery<\/em><\/strong> at Apollo Hospitals Navi Mumbai<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fistula-in-ano is a distressing condition that affects the anal region, causing pain, discomfort, and recurrent infections. Traditional surgical treatments often involve open procedures, leading to prolonged healing time and a risk of complications. However, Video-Assisted Anal Fistula Treatment (VAAFT) <\/strong>has emerged as a game-changer, offering a minimally invasive and highly effective solution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Understanding Fistula-in-Ano<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Fistula-in-ano is an abnormal tunnel or tract that forms between the anal canal and the skin around the anus. It typically develops due to an untreated anal abscess, chronic infections, or underlying medical conditions like Crohn\u2019s disease. Symptoms include persistent pain, swelling, pus discharge, and discomfort while sitting or passing stools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is VAAFT?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

VAAFT is a minimally invasive technique designed for the diagnosis and treatment of complex anal fistulas. Unlike conventional fistula surgery, which often requires cutting through tissues and muscles, VAAFT uses a specialized video endoscope <\/strong>to locate, assess, and treat the fistula without damaging the sphincter muscles, reducing the risk of fecal incontinence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How VAAFT Works<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The procedure is performed in two phases: the diagnostic phase and the operative phase.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. Diagnostic Phase:<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
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    • A fistuloscope (a small endoscope) is inserted through the external opening of the fistula.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • The surgeon visually maps the entire tract and identifies the internal opening.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
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      1. Operative Phase:<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
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        • The fistula tract is cleaned using an endoscopic tool.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • The internal opening is sealed using specialized suturing or laser techniques.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • The external opening is allowed to heal naturally without extensive tissue removal.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

          Advantages of VAAFT<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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          • Minimally Invasive:<\/strong> No major cuts or incisions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • Preserves Sphincter Function:<\/strong> Reduces the risk of fecal incontinence.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • Quick Recovery:<\/strong> Faster healing and minimal postoperative pain.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • Lower Recurrence Rate:<\/strong> Improved precision in identifying and treating the fistula.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • Outpatient or Short Hospital Stay:<\/strong> Patients can return to normal activities sooner.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

            Who Can Benefit from VAAFT?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

            VAAFT is particularly useful for patients with complex or recurrent anal fistulas where conventional treatment options have failed. It is suitable for individuals looking for a less painful and more effective alternative <\/strong>to traditional fistula surgeries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Conclusion<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

            VAAFT has revolutionized the management of fistula-in-ano, offering <\/strong>better outcomes, less pain, and a quicker return to daily life.<\/strong> If you or a loved one is struggling with an anal fistula, consult a specialist to explore whether VAAFT is the right choice for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Connect with our expert, Dr Nitish Jhawar \u2013 Sr. Consultant General Surgery & Robotic Surgery <\/em><\/strong>at Apollo Hospitals Navi Mumbai<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Call 022 6280 6280<\/strong> for an appointment<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Verified by Dr Nitish Jhawar \u2013 Sr. Consultant General Surgery & Robotic Surgery at Apollo Hospitals Navi Mumbai Fistula-in-ano is a distressing condition that affects the anal region, causing pain, discomfort, and recurrent infections. Traditional surgical treatments often involve open procedures, leading to prolonged healing time and a risk of complications. However, Video-Assisted Anal Fistula","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5251,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[212],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5249","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-general-surgery"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.apollohospitals.com\/region\/mumbai\/letstalkhealth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5249","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.apollohospitals.com\/region\/mumbai\/letstalkhealth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.apollohospitals.com\/region\/mumbai\/letstalkhealth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.apollohospitals.com\/region\/mumbai\/letstalkhealth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.apollohospitals.com\/region\/mumbai\/letstalkhealth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5249"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.apollohospitals.com\/region\/mumbai\/letstalkhealth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5249\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5253,"href":"https:\/\/www.apollohospitals.com\/region\/mumbai\/letstalkhealth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5249\/revisions\/5253"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.apollohospitals.com\/region\/mumbai\/letstalkhealth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5251"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.apollohospitals.com\/region\/mumbai\/letstalkhealth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5249"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.apollohospitals.com\/region\/mumbai\/letstalkhealth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5249"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.apollohospitals.com\/region\/mumbai\/letstalkhealth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5249"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}