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Yu Xu Chao

Colorectal Surgery

About me

Chief physician, master's degree graduate, engaged in colorectal surgery for six years, proficient in using integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine to treat colorectal diseases.

Proficient in diseases

Has rich clinical experience in anal diseases, specializes in using a combination of Chinese and Western medicine methods to treat internal hemorrhoids, external hemorrhoids, mixed hemorrhoids, anal fissures, anal fistulas, perianal abscesses, rectal prolapse, anal stenosis, constipation, inflammatory bowel disease, colorectal tumors, etc.

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Written by Yu Xu Chao
Colorectal Surgery
1min 12sec home-news-image

Can external hemorrhoids use hemorrhoid suppositories?

In clinical practice, hemorrhoidal suppositories can also be used for external hemorrhoids. Since hemorrhoidal suppositories are mainly administered through the rectum to act locally, they have a certain therapeutic effect on external hemorrhoids, especially for varicose external hemorrhoids and inflammatory external hemorrhoids, helping to alleviate local swelling and pain. Additionally, for external hemorrhoids, it is often recommended to use anal cleansers, or to sit in baths with potassium permanganate or other medicated solutions, combined with the external application of hemorrhoidal cream or golden ointment. If symptoms do not show significant improvement after four to five days of medication treatment, it is advisable to visit a hospital's proctology department for external hemorrhoid surgery as soon as possible, to prevent potential thrombosis or necrosis of the external hemorrhoids. Moreover, patients should develop good bowel habits, avoiding prolonged sitting or excessive straining during bowel movements to prevent worsening of external hemorrhoids. (Medication should be used under the guidance of a doctor)

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Written by Yu Xu Chao
Colorectal Surgery
1min 7sec home-news-image

Is a second surgery for an anal fistula more difficult than the first one?

Relative to the initial procedure, a second surgery for anal fistula is more difficult. The main goal of anal fistula surgery is to remove the internal opening and the fistula tract completely to cure the condition. During a second surgery for an anal fistula, due to the previous operation, the internal opening may be unclear, and it can be difficult to distinguish between the fistula and scar tissue. This can lead to incomplete removal by less experienced surgeons, increasing the likelihood of the fistula recurring later. Therefore, for a second surgery on an anal fistula, it is essential to undergo the procedure in a specialized colorectal department at a provincial-level top-rated hospital. It is recommended to have a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the anal region before surgery to ensure precise operation and complete removal of the internal opening and fistula tract. Proper postoperative dressing changes are also crucial to avoid infection and inflammation of the wound, which will help with normal recovery after the surgery.

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Written by Yu Xu Chao
Colorectal Surgery
1min 11sec home-news-image

What are the consequences of not treating anal fistulas?

Since an anal fistula is caused by the infection and inflammation of the anal glands, it connects the rectum or anal canal with the skin around the anus, forming repeated abscesses, pain, and discharge of pus and blood around the anus. If an anal fistula is not treated, more fistula tracts will develop over time, and more of the muscles around the anus will become infected. This can even lead to high, complex anal fistulas, making surgical treatment later on more difficult and could easily lead to anal incontinence. Also, if an anal fistula is left untreated for a long time, there is the possibility of malignant transformation. Therefore, in clinical practice, it is recommended to undertake surgical treatment for anal fistulas as early as possible. The surgery for an anal fistula mainly involves the removal of the internal opening and the fistula tract, which is essential for a complete cure. Postoperatively, it is necessary to persist in changing dressings to avoid infection or pseudohealing at the wound site. Moreover, patients should be mindful of their diet.

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Written by Yu Xu Chao
Colorectal Surgery
59sec home-news-image

Is the recovery from a second anal fistula surgery quick?

Whether the recovery from a second surgery for anal fistula is quick primarily depends on whether the surgical wound is infected and bleeding, and it is also directly related to the patient's own immunity and the size of the wound. Generally, if the wound from the second surgery is relatively small and the patient does not have diabetes, tuberculosis, or inflammatory bowel disease, then the postoperative recovery tends to be quicker. Moreover, the patient should eat foods rich in high-quality protein and persist in changing dressings to avoid infection and bleeding of the wound, which also facilitates recovery after anal fistula surgery. However, if the wound from the anal fistula surgery is larger and the second procedure involves the seton technique, and since the patient's second surgery is for a high complex anal fistula, the recovery time is relatively slower. Additionally, if the patient has diabetes or inflammatory bowel disease, this will directly affect the postoperative recovery.

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Written by Yu Xu Chao
Colorectal Surgery
57sec home-news-image

How to distinguish between anal fissures and hemorrhoids

To distinguish between anal fissures and hemorrhoids, one can first differentiate based on symptoms. Anal fissures primarily cause pain during defecation and minor bleeding, with the pain typically lasting from 20 minutes to half an hour. Patients often have hard stools or constipation. In contrast, hemorrhoids primarily lead to intermittent painless rectal bleeding. The blood is bright red and usually in greater volume, often appearing in a spraying or dripping pattern after defecation. Some patients may also experience prolapsed hemorrhoids, often accompanied by a sensation of heaviness and foreign body in the anus. Further, through a digital rectal examination, an anal fissure can be identified by a palpable ulcer or crack at the posterior or anterior midline of the anus. Hemorrhoids, being soft venous clusters, can also be differentiated through this examination.

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Written by Yu Xu Chao
Colorectal Surgery
1min 20sec home-news-image

If pus is draining from a perianal abscess, does that mean it's getting better?

The discharge of pus from a perianal abscess does not indicate improvement. This situation is due to the spontaneous rupture of the perianal abscess, which can easily lead to the formation of an anal fistula. Since a perianal abscess is caused by an infection of the anal glands and can infect the surrounding tissues, the simple discharge of pus without clearing the internal opening and infected tissues will not resolve the problem. Furthermore, there is a risk of recurrent episodes that may even result in more severe swelling. Therefore, it is necessary to seek early treatment at a hospital's colorectal surgery department for a definitive one-time surgical resolution of the perianal abscess, removing the internal opening and infected tissues. Post-surgery, medications like anal washes and potassium permanganate solutions should be used for dressing changes. Additionally, medications like erythromycin ointment strips and mupirocin ointment can be used to promote healing of the local surgical site. Patients should also maintain perianal hygiene, ensure smooth bowel movements, and avoid dry, hard stools that may irritate and cause pain or bleeding at the wound site.

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Written by Yu Xu Chao
Colorectal Surgery
1min 2sec home-news-image

Is minimally invasive surgery or traditional surgery better for internal hemorrhoids prolapse?

If the patient has only internal hemorrhoids prolapse without external hemorrhoids, it is better to opt for minimally invasive surgery, as it causes less damage and allows for faster postoperative recovery. Clinically, the TST surgical method is often recommended to avoid postoperative anal stenosis. However, if the internal hemorrhoids prolapse is accompanied by severe external hemorrhoids, it is advisable to opt for the traditional external peeling and internal ligation surgery, as this method can also effectively address external hemorrhoids, avoiding the need for a second surgery. Postoperatively, the use of anal cleansers, potassium permanganate solution, golden ointment, red oil ointment gauze, and hemorrhoid suppositories for dressing changes can promote recovery. Additionally, postoperative patients should avoid certain foods and maintain smooth bowel movements to prevent infections, swelling, and bleeding, which will aid in recovery.

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Written by Yu Xu Chao
Colorectal Surgery
1min 11sec home-news-image

Can external hemorrhoids heal by themselves?

External hemorrhoids can be classified into cutaneous flap hemorrhoids, varicose vein hemorrhoids, thrombotic hemorrhoids, and inflammatory hemorrhoids. These are mostly caused by poor defecation habits of the patient, such as prolonged defecation time or excessive straining during bowel movements, which then lead to the growth of excess skin flaps, varicose veins, or rupture of venous blood vessels, resulting in various types of external hemorrhoids. Therefore, these types of hemorrhoids cannot heal on their own and require treatment with medication or surgery. For cutaneous flap hemorrhoids, if the patient does not experience significant discomfort, specific treatment is generally not necessary, just attention to hygiene around the anal area is needed. However, for inflammatory or thrombotic hemorrhoids, since they can cause anal pain and a feeling of prolapse, it is advisable to opt for surgical stripping of the hemorrhoids as soon as possible. Post-surgery, treatments such as anal washes, red oil gauze strips, and golden ointment should be used for dressing changes, while also maintaining cleanliness of the anal region.

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Written by Yu Xu Chao
Colorectal Surgery
1min 3sec home-news-image

Does rectal cancer vomit infect others?

Rectal cancer vomiting is not contagious. The vomiting in rectal cancer is primarily due to the growth of a tumor in the intestine that becomes too large, which then induces intestinal obstruction, causing the patient to vomit and be unable to eat. Furthermore, the vomit is not contagious, and rectal cancer itself is not a contagious disease. For patients with rectal cancer, it is essential to relieve the obstruction as soon as possible and to arrange surgery promptly. If sphincter preservation is possible, it should be attempted. Also, patients with rectal cancer should undergo a pathological biopsy to determine the type of cancer and whether it has spread. Patients with rectal cancer also need to be on a full-liquid diet. Foods with residues should be avoided as much as possible to not easily induce intestinal obstruction, leading to electrolyte disturbances or even causing the body to go into shock. Thus, it is crucial to pay sufficient attention to these issues.

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Written by Yu Xu Chao
Colorectal Surgery
1min 6sec home-news-image

Can an anal abscess without pus be treated without surgery?

Perianal abscesses require surgical treatment even if there is no pus present, as early-stage perianal abscesses are primarily characterized by pain and noticeable lumps near the anus, with the lumps typically being hard. This condition is mainly considered to be an infection and inflammation of the anal glands, which then infects the surrounding tissue, leading to the development of lumps. Surgical treatment should be undertaken as soon as possible even in the absence of pus, because as the infection worsens over time, it may lead to the formation of pus. Early treatment can be advantageous as the infected area is not very extensive, thus resulting in a smaller surgical wound. For early-stage perianal abscesses, a one-time radical surgery may be chosen to remove the internal opening and the infected tissue thoroughly, followed by postoperative care using medicated substances such as erythromycin ointment gauze, anal washes, or mupirocin ointment to promote healing of the surgical wound.