Anyone had an infection after Lateral Internal Sphincterotomy surgery (LIS)?

[SandraOz]

I had constant pain from a fissure for about 8 months. It was so unbearable, after trying every known therapy from diet modification, rectogesic cream, scheriproct cream, acupuncture, chinese herbs, natural medication, I opted for LIS surgery. I chose a surgeon who had done 100s of these operations with no problems.
After the LIS surgery I was in a lot of pain for the first week and constipation didn't help matters. Then the next couple of weeks I was feeling better.
In the third week, I noticed a lump had formed like a pimple and I started getting pain again during bms. It turned out to be an anal abscess which had formed at the site of the cut (my surgeon had never seen this before - don't you just love that!)
He gave me antibiotics which made me worse and did not heal up the infection. Finally I had to get the abscess drained - another day surgery and the week after the surgey I was in a lot of pain again. Gradually the next three weeks, the pain subsided and I felt great. However, this last week I have felt pain again and am worried the abscess has come back or the fissure hasn't healed.
I go back to see the surgeon next week. As you can imagine, I have been to hell and back and my mental health has suffered tremendously.
Has anyone else had an experience with an anal abscess forming after LIS surgery?

[Jazzwhoops]

Hi there
How is the recovery phase going? Well my dad had the LIS surgery in July and it's August yet he is not getting better. He had the botox injection therefore isnt allowed to use steriod creams,  nitroglycerin cream or anything to reduce complication. My dad is thorough in his diet and cleaning ; does sitz twice a day eating soft food. Yet his recovery is slow and now he found out that there is abscess forming near his surgery wound.

[lemondrop68]

I am on month 3 with this issue. I have been back to the surgeon three times and cauterized it each time.. It still is the same thing. I see him on the 19th of July and I think he is going to recommend going back into the ER but how is that going to heal either. I have the Chief Of Surgery doing my surgery and he  excellent and baffled by this because he has a 100%success rate on these. I am just so frustrated!!

[BumGirl_haha]

Hi,

Bit late but...

I had exactly the same thing. The infection following sphincterotomy was immediate and and abscess developed. This is got drained 2 weeks after the initial surgery. This was seemingly just "sliced off" and nothing was drained so a tunnel developed, right next to my anus. This tunnel was never packed and lots of fluid built up and it was getting painful. Long story short 5 months later it got drained. THEN, because it was so close to my anus and I wasn't having daily salt baths after going to the toilet... it got infected AGAIN. SO... I've had it drained again about a week ago. It's 1cm deep now, not sure how long it will take to heal but there was no fistula it just came from within the cheek.

The word pilonidal cyst is used a lot and I don't think that is what this is... perianal cyst? I'm not sure. It's been drained twice so you'd hope there was nothing left in the cheek and it'll heal up forever.

Does anyone have an advice for me? Diet, cleansing tips, packing? I'm currently on the sorbisan ribbon as it's small but has anyone tried aquaform? supposed to be a gel that also heals it?


7 months on here with the same hole in me and it needs to go!

ANAL FISSURES:
On a separate note, I suffered from anal fissures for 3 years, horrendously painful, like someone shoving a knife up your bum ever time you go for a poo - **** the GTN, go for the diltiazem hydrochloride 2%. I mean, it didn't work for me overall and rid me of the fissures but my bum was very tight and needed surgery. Just don't suffer with it! And also if it happened as a result of anal sex don't beat yourself up about it, no matter what your past you have a spotless future. Don't get depressed and let them put you on tablets you find the solution in surgery and move on. That GTN cream is the devil, it makes you feel like you're on drugs.

[patient915]

Welcome to the gastroenterology community!  I have never had this surgery so I can't give you advice from my experience, just from what I have learned about this.  Rare complications, like the ones you suffered from, do happen, but luckily they are rare.  I would recommend getting a second opinion to make sure you are doing all that you can to help yourself heal.