Enlarging anal orfice

When a tubular organ or blood vessel becomes excessively narrow such that it can no longer perform as nature intended, it is a condition referred to by physicians as stenosis. Anal stenosis, also known as an anal stricture, is the narrowing of the anal canal, located just before the anal sphincter. The anal sphincter is a complex part of the body that maintains a seal that can be opened to discharge body waste. It is strong enough to restrict the passage of any fecal material but sensitive enough to differentiate between solid, liquid, and gas. There are actually two anal sphincter muscles … internal and external. The internal anal sphincter is a thin, white muscle wrapped around the anal canal.

A more recent article on benign anorectal conditions is available. JOHN L. This is Part II of a two-part article on anorectal conditions. Patients with a wide variety of anorectal lesions present to family physicians. Most can be successfully managed in the office setting. A high index of suspicion for cancer should be maintained and all patients should be questioned about relevant family history or other indications for cancer screening.

Try out PMC Labs and tell us what you think. Learn More. Anal stenosis is a rare but serious complication of anorectal surgery, most commonly seen after hemorrhoidectomy. Anal stenosis represents a technical challenge in terms of surgical management.

An imperforate anus defect prevents most or all stool from passing out of the rectum. How this surgery is performed depends on the type of imperforate anus. The surgery is done under general anesthesia. This means the infant is asleep and feels no pain during the procedure. Your baby may be able to go home later the same day if a mild defect is repaired.