Fistula Treatment Surgery Treatment in India

Vihaan Patel, a 42-year-old restaurant owner,...

Vihaan Patel, a 42-year-old restaurant owner, had been living with Crohn's disease for over a decade. For the past 18 months, he had been managing a painful, draining perianal fistula that made sitting for long periods and running his busy kitchen agonizing. Despite multiple rounds of antibiotics and attempts at seton placement, the fistula persisted and became more complex. His gastroenterologist, concerned about recurrent abscesses and the risk of sepsis, referred him to a colorectal surgeon. The surgeon recommended a LIFT procedure (Ligation of the Intersphincteric Fistula Tract), explaining it offered a good chance of healing while preserving continence. Vihaan was terrified of surgery and potential complications, fearing it could end his career. The surgery went smoothly as a day procedure. The initial recovery was painful and required meticulous wound care, but within three weeks, the drainage stopped completely. After two months, he was back at work full-time, pain-free. Emotionally, he transitioned from feeling defeated and trapped by his chronic condition to feeling liberated and hopeful, finally able to focus on his life and business without constant discomfort.