Vestibular fistula in neonates

The article was professionally consulted by Specialist Doctor II Tran Van Trong - Specialist in Pediatric Surgery, Plastic Surgery - Aesthetics - Department of General Surgery, Vinmec Danang International Hospital

The anal canal is the end of the intestinal tract, it includes the rectum and anus. Occasionally, in infants an abnormal passage forms from the anal canal to the skin near the anus, this is called an anal-vestibular fistula in an infant. Vestibular fistulas can also form from the anal canal to other organs, such as the vagina or urinary tract.

What is anal fistula? An anal fistula may be congenital or due to an anal abscess or Crohn's disease. In addition, trauma to the anal canal and surgery can also lead to anal fistula.
Symptoms of an anal fistula in infants may include:
Pain in or near the rectum Discharge from the fistula may contain blood, pus, or both Bleeding from the rectum urology The main concern of an anal fistula is infection. If the infection cannot drain, a collection of pus will form and this is called an anal abscess. An infection or abscess causes redness, swelling, or pain near the anus or rectum, and the child may also have a fever.

Treatment of anal vestibular fistula is not too difficult. If the anal fistula is caused by Crohn's disease, the anal fistula may respond well to medications such as antibiotics and immunosuppressants. This method may result in complete closure of the fistula, but there is still the possibility that the fistula may form again.
Anal fistula often requires surgery if other treatments cannot fix it. The type of surgery and the number of times your child has surgery will depend on the type of fistula.
In certain cases, a child may need to have their small intestine removed during surgery to create an opening in the abdomen for stool to pass out of the body, avoiding the rectum and anus. The stool will come out and be stored in a bag worn outside the body, this is called an ostomy. The duration of the colostomy can be temporary or permanent depending on the type of fistula and the success of the surgery.

After treating an anal fistula in an infant in the hospital, the child may be prescribed some medications such as pain relievers and antibiotics. Parents need to strictly follow all instructions when giving these medicines to their children.
If the child has had surgery, parents need to take care of the following:
Monitor the incision for signs of infection. Soak the anus in a basin of clean warm water 3 or 4 times a day. Mothers should eat plenty of fiber and breastfeed regularly. Use stool softeners or laxatives as needed. If the child has an ostomy, the parents need to take care as follows:
Parents need to wash their hands with soap and warm water before and after nursing care; Clean the poop bag regularly according to the instructions and need to make sure that the bag is secure and fits properly; Clean the skin around the stoma with soap and warm water and gently pat dry; Monitor the stoma to prevent infection. To know more about how to care for patients with an ostomy, you can refer to this article link.

Vestibular fistula in newborns is not too dangerous, but if detected late, not treated promptly will cause many serious complications. As soon as the child shows signs of the disease, you should take the child to a reputable medical center for examination and treatment.