ANAL FISSURES
Patients visiting a specialist for anal discomfort commonly complain
of "hemorrhoids", when an anal fissure is the true diagnosis. Anal
fissure is a tear in the anal lining, which exposes the underlying
muscle of the internal anal sphincter. Fissures can occur
spontaneously, or as a result of difficult or explosive bowel
movements. Once the sphincter muscle is exposed it goes into spasm
causing discomfort and painful bowel evacuation. In most instances
the pain is extreme. To relieve the pain and start the healing
process, the internal anal sphincter muscle needs to be relaxed.
PAIN RELIEF
Two common methods used to treat anal fissures are:
-
Surgical Sphincterotomy – The internal anal sphincter muscle is
surgically divided to relax it.
-
Chemical Sphincterotomy - Pharmacological Sphincter Relaxants
(Fissure Medications) are applied intra-anally to relax the
internal anal sphincter.
Surgical Sphincterotomy
Surgery usually consists of an operation, under general anesthesia,
to divide a portion of the internal anal sphincter muscle. This
helps to eliminate the spasm, which decreases the pain and allows
the fissure to heal. Complete healing sometimes occurs within weeks
after the Sphincterotomy, although pain often disappears after a few
days. Some degree of postoperative incontinence for flatus or feces
occurs in up to one-third of patients. Most patients would prefer to
try a less invasive treatment consisting of the use of
Pharmacological Sphincter Relaxants.
Chemical Sphincterotomy - Pharmacological Sphincter Relaxants
Clinical studies1
have shown that spasm of the internal anal sphincter can be relieved
by using Pharmacological Sphincter Relaxants (Fissure Medications)
such as calcium channel blockers (Diltiazem, Nifedipine) and topical
nitrates (nitroglycerine gel) whose action on the internal anal
sphincter causes it to relax and thereby eliminates the pain.
Clinical experience has also shown that precise dosing of Fissure
Medications and application directly to the anal mucosa (anal canal)
produce optimum results.
OrigynRx™
has developed a unique and proprietary delivery device that
delivers an exact dose of Fissure Medication directly to the anal
mucosa (anal canal). Intra-anal application of Fissure Medication
directly to the anal mucosa has been shown to significantly increase
the absorption rate.2
(See how DoseRite works)
HEALING
Intra-anal application of Fissure Medication to the anal mucosa has
a very predictable result. It relaxes the internal anal sphincter
muscle, which relieves the pain almost immediately and allows for
the healing of anal fissures to begin. For this reason, use of
Fissure Medications is often referred to as a “Chemical Sphincterotomy”. There have been no reported cases of incontinence
as a result of using Fissure Medications.
1 AGA
Technical Review on the Diagnosis and Care of Patients with Anal
Fissure
2
Crit Rev Ther Drug
Carrier Syst, 2004; 21(3):195-256 SONG Y , et al., Mucosal drug
delivery: membranes, methodologies, and applications.
OrigynRx does not
make recommendations for prescription medications.
© 2004,
DoseRite and AccuTip are
trademarks of Syringe, LLC
OrigynRx is a trademark of OrigynRx, LLC |
