Anal Surgery: Addressing Fissures and Fistulas for Improved Health

An anal fissure is a small tear or crack in the lining of the anus, which can cause pain and bleeding during and after bowel movements. On the other hand, an anal fistula is an abnormal connection or tunnel that forms between two organs or between an organ and the skin. Both conditions can cause similar symptoms such as pain and bleeding, but they are different and are treated differently.

Symptoms of Anal Fissure and Fistula

The symptoms of an anal fissure can include:

• Rectal bleeding
• Pain during a bowel movement (dyschezia)
• Pain that lasts a long time, even hours, after a bowel movement
• Tenderness or discomfort in the anal area¹¹

The symptoms of a perianal fistula can include:

• Discharge from the fistula (including blood, mucus, or other fluid)
• Fever
• Incontinence (leaking stool)
• Pain in the anal area (the bottom)
• Pain when going to the bathroom

Treatment for Anal Fissure and Fistula

Treatment for anal fissures often involves using a laser to precisely target and seal the abnormal passages (fistulas) and repair tears (fissures) in the anal canal. This technique offers several advantages over traditional surgical methods, including reduced pain, faster recovery, and lower risk of complications.

Now, let’s move on to their coverage in health insurance in India.

Health Insurance Coverage for Fissure and Fistula Surgeries in India

• Surgical treatment for anal fissure and fistula is covered in health insurance policies.

• Along with hospital charges, policies cover treatment expenses incurred within a 30-day period before surgery (Pre Hospitalization). In some retail or individual plans, this period could be up to 60 days.

• Charges for doctor consultation, lab investigations, endoscopies, and medicines are covered.

• After surgery, your follow-up treatment for 60 days, or 2 months, is also covered (Post Hospitalization).

• Daycare surgeries are covered under insurance and you need not spend 24 hours at the hospital to claim for this treatment.
• A few corporate group health policies put a limit or upper cap for treatment expenses of fissure and fistula. This means that your policy will pay for treatment only up to this amount.

• While corporate group health insurance does not have a waiting period, retail or individual policies generally have a waiting period of 12-24 months for treatment cover of fissure and fistula.

• Some patients do not respond positively to the surgery and may develop complications after a few weeks or months of the surgery. In such cases, the doctor may perform another surgery to fix the complications. Such surgery will also be covered by your insurance policy.

Finally, let’s look at the average cost of these surgeries in India.

Average Cost of Fissure and Fistula Surgeries in India

The average cost of fistula surgery in India ranges from INR 40,000 to INR 60,000 or more, depending on several factors. The cost of fissure surgery in India can range from Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 20,000. Here is a summary table for quick reference:

Surgery Type	Average Cost in India
Fistula Surgery	INR 40,000 – INR 60,000
Fissure Surgery	INR 10,000 – INR 20,000

Please note that the terms and conditions around the insurance coverage and the amount you can claim under them may differ for each patient. Therefore, you must check the details of the insurance policy before purchasing it.