Explore anal fistula treatment in South Florida with Dr. Astha Bhatt.
As a Board-Certified General Surgeon and fellowship-trained colorectal specialist, Dr. Astha Bhatt offers sphincter-preserving procedures—including the LIFT technique, seton placement, fistulotomy, and tissue flaps—tailored to protect continence while delivering long-term healing for patients across Broward County, Palm Beach, and Miami-Dade. Dr. Bhatt provides:
Book an Anal Fistula Consultation
Same-week Anal Fistula Treatment consultation. Complete the form or call our South Florida office at (954) 388-0860
Understanding an Anal Fistula and When Treatment Is Needed
Led by Dr. Astha Bhatt, MD, our practice delivers expert care aligned with the rigorous standards of the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons (ASCRS). The primary objective of anal fistula treatment in South Florida is to eradicate the infected tract while preserving the anal sphincter muscles responsible for bowel control. Dr. Bhatt conducts a thorough evaluation focusing on four key parameters:
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Fistula Location & Sphincter Involvement: Determining whether the tract is superficial, intersphincteric, or transsphincteric dictates whether a fistulotomy or sphincter-sparing LIFT procedure is required.
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Complexity & Recurrence Risk: Evaluating prior surgeries, multiple openings, or chronic inflammation ensures a tailored approach for complex or recurrent anal fistulas.
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Muscle Preservation & Continence Safety: We thoroughly assess baseline sphincter tone and tissue health to select surgical options that guarantee optimal healing without compromise.
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Fistula Anatomy: The location of the internal opening and the amount of sphincter muscle crossed by the tract help determine whether fistulotomy, seton placement, LIFT, advancement flap, or staged treatment may be appropriate.
For patients seeking an anal fistula surgeon near me, Dr. Bhatt prioritizes patient comfort, rapid pain reduction, and surgical precision.
Anal Fistula Treatment — Request an Appointment
Same-week Anal Fistula Treatment consultation. Complete the form or call our South Florida office at (954) 388-0860
The best treatment for anal fistula depends on whether the fistula is low or high, how much anal sphincter muscle it crosses, whether an abscess is present, and whether the condition is recurrent or related to Crohn’s disease. Depending on the location, depth, and muscle involvement of the tract, Dr. Astha Bhatt performs specialized fistula procedures to eliminate infection and promote tissue healing while protecting anal sphincter integrity.
Unroofing of simple tracts (Fistulotomy) or placement of surgical threads (Setons) for high, deep, or actively infected fistulas. A fistulotomy opens the fistula tract so that it can heal gradually from the inside outward. Dr. Bhatt evaluates the expected healing benefit against the possible effect on bowel control before recommending this approach.
Best For: Simple or low anal fistulas with limited sphincter involvement and normal baseline bowel control.
Ligation of Intersphincteric Fistula Tract (LIFT) and Endorectal Advancement Flap. Dr. Bhatt make it work: The LIFT procedure for anal fistula accesses the tract between the internal and external sphincter muscles, isolating and tying off the fistula without cutting any muscle fibers. An advancement flap covers the internal opening using healthy mucosal tissue.
Best For: Complex transsphincteric fistulas, recurrent anal fistula treatment, and patients seeking specialized LIFT procedure for anal fistula in South Florida.
A draining seton is a soft surgical loop placed through the fistula tract. It keeps the tract open so infected material can drain instead of collecting into another painful abscess.
Dr. Bhatt may use a seton temporarily before a definitive procedure or maintained longer in selected patients with complex fistulas or Crohn’s disease.
Best For: Transsphincteric, complex, recurrent, branching, or Crohn’s-related fistulas.
Dr. Bhatt takes meticulous care during every reconstruction to ensure a well-perfused, tension-free connection. This careful attention minimizes the risk of an anastomotic leak, which is one of the most critical aspects of surgical safety in bowel resection.
Patients seeking an experienced anal fistula specialist near me in Broward County deserve clear explanations, compassionate bedside manner, and surgical excellence. Backed by hundreds of verified reviews, Dr. Bhatt (Board Certified General Surgeon & Fellowship Trained in Advanced Colon and Rectal Surgery) isthe trusted choice for perianal fistula treatment across South Florida.
COLON CANCER PATIENT GUIDE
Learn what to expect after a colon cancer diagnosis, how surgery is planned, and when robotic, laparoscopic, or open colon cancer surgery may be considered — directly from Dr. Astha Bhatt, MD, a Board-Certified General Surgeon and Fellowship-Trained minimally invasive colon Cancer Surgery in South Florida.
Educational video: colon cancer diagnosis, surgical planning, robotic colectomy, bowel resection, and recovery expectations.
In this patient education video, Dr. Bhatt shares clinical insights from over 15 years of medical experience. Dr. Bhatt provides physician-led evaluation for patients with colon cancer, colorectal cancer, malignant colon polyps, and suspicious colon masses
If you were diagnosed with colon cancer, colorectal cancer, a malignant colon polyp, or a suspicious colon mass, Dr. Bhatt can review your records, explain your surgical options, and help plan the safest next step.
Meet Dr. Astha Bhatt, MD
Personalized evaluation, dedicated follow-up care.
For those seeking highly coordinated colon cancer surgery near me in Broward County, Dr. Astha Bhatt, MD, provides a rare combination of rigorous training, extensive clinical volume, and personalized care. As a board-certified general surgeon and a fellowship-trained colon surgery specialist, Dr. Bhatt is committed to delivering state-of-the-art colon cancer surgery tailored to the unique health goals of each patient
Dr. Bhatt personally oversees each patient’s evaluation, surgical planning, operation, and follow-up care. When appropriate, she offers robotic or laparoscopic colon cancer surgery and coordinates treatment with gastroenterologists, medical oncologists, radiologists, pathologists, interventional radiologists, and other specialists.
Board-Certified Surgeon
Robotic Colon Cancer Surgery: Dr. Bhatt is certified by the American Board of Surgery offers robotic-assisted colon resection for appropriate patients using advanced visualization and precise surgical technique to support safe cancer removal and recovery.
Fellowship-Trained in Robotic Colorectal Surgery
Dr. Bhatt completed The Fellowship Council-accredited program at AdventHealth Tampa, focused on minimally invasive colon and rectal surgery, including robotic-assisted colorectal surgery.
Physician-Led Care
Dr. Bhatt personally directs every step of your care. Robotic or laparoscopic colon cancer surgery may support smaller incisions, less pain than large open incisions, faster bowel recovery, shorter hospital stay.
Rectal bleeding or blood in the stool
Change in bowel habits
Colon mass or malignant polyp found during colonoscopy
Fatigue, weakness, or iron-deficiency anemia
Dr. Astha Bhatt, MD provides experienced, physician-led consultations for anal fistulas and anorectal conditions. She welcomes patients across Broward, Palm Beach, and Miami-Dade counties for in-person appointments, second opinions, and procedure planning.
Serving Fort Lauderdale, Wilton Manors, Oakland Park, Lauderdale Lakes, and Lazy Lake with specialized fistulotomy surgery in Fort Lauderdale FL.
Providing advanced evaluations for patients in Pompano Beach, Deerfield Beach, Lighthouse Point, Coconut Creek, and Boca Raton.
Advanced sphincter-sparing procedures (LIFT) for patients residing in Coral Springs, Parkland, Margate, Sunrise, and Weston.
Treating simple and complex fistulas for patients in Davie, Cooper City, Plantation, Southwest Ranches, Pembroke Pines, Miramar, and Hollywood.
Expert second opinions and seton placement for anal fistula in Boca Raton, Delray Beach, and West Palm Beach.
Delivering safe, surgeon-led care for patients traveling from Miami, Aventura, Sunny Isles, and surrounding South Florida communities.
Our clinic in Pompano Beach and Fort Lauderdale, along with satellite offices in Margate, Coral Springs, Davie, and Plantation, offer convenient access to expert care.
The best approach is selected only after the fistula anatomy and sphincter involvement are understood. Treatment may occur in one operation, but complex or infected fistulas frequently require staged care. The primary challenge in anal fistula surgery is curing the fistula tract without causing damage to the anal sphincter muscles. Traditional fistulotomy methods that cut through muscle carry an inherent risk of fecal incontinence. Today, South Florida patients have access to advanced, sphincter-sparing surgical options through Dr. Astha Bhatt.
As a fellowship-trained anal fistula surgeon in South Florida, Dr. Bhatt utilizes state-of-the-art procedures designed to isolate and eliminate the fistula tract while leaving sphincter muscles untouched.
PATIENT QUESTIONS on ANAL FISTULA
An anal fistula is an abnormal, small tunnel that connects an infected gland inside your anal canal to the skin surrounding your anus. Think of it like a tiny tube that forms underneath the skin, allowing fluid to drain out continuously. It most often develops after an infected anal gland forms an abscess, which is a pocket of pus.
The primary cause of an anal fistula is a prior anal abscess, which is a collection of pus caused by an infected anal gland. When an abscess drains—either naturally or through medical drainage—a small channel can remain open behind it. Over time, this channel turns into a chronic fistula tract. An anal fistula is not caused by poor hygiene, and it usually does not disappear simply by taking antibiotics. A colorectal surgeon can examine the area and determine the fistula’s path, depth, and relationship to the anal sphincter muscles before recommending treatment.
Dr. Bhatt, as a Board certified General Surgeon and Fellowship-Trained Colorectal Surgeon, often tell patients that an anal fistula produces very noticeable, recurring symptoms. The most common sign is persistent or intermittent drainage near the anus. This discharge can appear as pus, foul-smelling fluid, or blood, often staining your undergarments.
The discomfort may become worse while sitting, walking, coughing, having a bowel movement, or after prolonged sitting. Some people notice that a painful lump repeatedly swells and then improves after it drains. Fever, chills, increasing redness, or worsening pain may indicate a new abscess and require prompt medical evaluation.
Symptoms can temporarily improve after drainage, but the underlying fistula may still remain. In some cases, if the fistula becomes clogged and forms a new abscess, you may develop a fever, chills, or fatigue. Because these symptoms mirror other conditions like hemorrhoids or skin infections, a proper physical examination by a specialist is crucial to get an accurate diagnosis and begin the correct treatment plan.
Most anal fistulas begin with an infection in one of the small glands located inside the anus. Inside your anal canal, you have small glands that produce mucus. If one of these glands becomes blocked with bacteria or fecal material, it leads to an infection called an anal abscess—a painful pocket filled with pus. The abscess may drain on its own or require surgical drainage, but the infected passage sometimes remains open between the anal canal and the nearby skin. That remaining passage becomes an anal fistula.
When that abscess drains, either on its own or through surgical drainage, the body attempts to heal. However, in about half of all cases, the pathway from the internal gland to the outer skin fails to close, leaving behind a persistent tunnel known as a fistula. Some fistulas are simple and travel through little or no sphincter muscle, while others have branches or pass through a larger portion of the muscles responsible for bowel control. Constipation and poor hygiene are not usually the direct cause. Identifying the underlying cause and mapping the fistula correctly are important because the anatomy affects which treatment is safest and most likely to succeed.
The “best” treatment for an anal fistula depends entirely on whether the tunnel is simple or complex, and how close it passes to your sphincter muscles, which control bowel movements. As colorectal surgeons, our goal is to cure the fistula permanently while carefully preserving muscle function. A deeper or more complex fistula may require a draining seton, the LIFT procedure, an advancement flap, or another sphincter-preserving approach. Patients with Crohn’s disease may also need medication from a gastroenterologist to control intestinal inflammation.
These include the LIFT procedure (ligation of the intersphincteric fistula tract), advanced laser fistula closure (FiLaC), seton placement, or tissue flaps. Antibiotics can help treat surrounding infection in selected cases, but they usually do not close the fistula by themselves.There is no single operation that is best for every patient. During your consultation, we use precise imaging—like a 3D endoanal ultrasound or pelvic MRI—to map the tunnel. This allows us to tailor a personalized treatment plan that gives you the highest cure rate with the lowest risk of incontinence.
As a Colorectal Surgeon with Fellowship Training focused on Anal Fistula, Dr. Bhatt often asked if an anal fistula can go away naturally. Unfortunately, the answer is virtually always no. An anal fistula creates a continuous, lined tunnel connecting the inside of your rectum to your outer skin. Because stool and bacteria constantly pass through the area, the body cannot close this channel on its own.
While warm sitz baths, antibiotics, and skin creams can temporarily reduce inflammation, lower swelling, or relieve pain, they are only temporary fixes. They do not eliminate the underlying tunnel. In rare cases where a fistula is caused by Crohn’s disease, specialized biologic medications may promote healing, but true non-surgical cures for standard fistulas do not exist.
Home care, including warm baths, gentle cleansing, fiber, fluids, and avoiding constipation, may improve comfort but does not usually cure the fistula. A colorectal surgeon can determine whether treatment is needed urgently and which approach offers the best balance between healing and preserving bowel control.
Patients often confuse an anal abscess and an anal fistula, but they represent two different stages of a related problem. An anal abscess is an acute, sudden infection. It occurs when an anal gland becomes blocked, creating a painful, swollen pocket filled with pus. It causes throbbing pain, fever, and localized redness, requiring immediate medical drainage.
It usually causes sudden, worsening pain, tenderness, swelling, redness, and sometimes fever or chills.
An anal fistula, on the other hand, is a chronic condition that often develops after an abscess has drained. Think of the abscess as the initial emergency infection, and the fistula as the leftover tunnel. Up to 50% of patients who experience an abscess will develop a fistula, as the infected pathway remains open between the internal gland and the skin. Not every abscess develops into a fistula, but many fistulas begin with an abscess. Persistent drainage or repeated abscesses should be evaluated by a colorectal surgeon.
In short: an abscess is an active, pus-filled pocket needing prompt drainage, while a fistula is the long-term tunnel requiring targeted surgical repair to heal properly.
To find the best anal fistula specialist in Miami-Dade, Broward, or Palm Beach County, look for a surgeon with focused training and experience in colon, rectal, and anal conditions. A board-certified general surgeon or colon and rectal surgeon with advanced Fellowship Training colorectal experience should routinely evaluate both simple and complex fistulas.
Recovery after anal fistula surgery depends primarily on the complexity of the tunnel and the surgical technique used. For simple fistulas treated with a fistulotomy or minimally invasive options like laser therapy, initial recovery is quick. Most patients return to light daily activities or desk work within three to seven days.
However, complete healing of the internal tissues typically takes between two to six weeks. For complex fistulas requiring seton placement, tissue flaps, or multi-stage procedures, full recovery may take eight weeks or longer. During this timeframe, post-operative care focuses on gentle hygiene, warm sitz baths, taking stool softeners, and preventing constipation to allow comfortable healing.
Contact the surgeon for fever, worsening pain, increasing swelling, heavy bleeding, difficulty urinating, or foul drainage. Follow-up visits are important to confirm proper healing and detect recurrence. Following your surgeon’s specific post-care guidelines and attending follow-up visits ensures the wound heals thoroughly from the inside out without complications.
Still Have Questions About Anal Fistula Surgery? Call (954) 388-0860
UNDERSTANDING ANAL FISTULA TYPES & SURGICAL PLANNING
Successful treatment planning begins with understanding the complete fistula rather than treating only the external skin opening. Anal fistulas are classified based on their relationship to the anal sphincter muscles. Accurate diagnosis and anatomic mapping are vital because the treatment choice depends entirely on how much muscle tissue is involved. Dr. Astha Bhatt, MD Colorectal Surgeon evaluates every fistula to select the repair method that yields the highest cure rate while completely protecting bowel control:
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Superficial & Low Intersphincteric Fistulas: The tract involves little to no sphincter muscle. Treatment: A simple fistulotomy is performed, unroofing the tract so it heals safely from the inside out with minimal recovery time.
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Transsphincteric Fistulas (Low to Mid): The tract passes through both internal and external sphincter muscles. Treatment: The LIFT procedure for anal fistula or endorectal advancement flap is selected to isolate and tie off the tract while leaving sphincter muscles 100% intact.
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High Transsphincteric & Extrasphincteric Fistulas: The tract travels high up into the pelvic floor muscles or encompasses significant sphincter bulk. Treatment: Staged management utilizing a loose seton placement first to drain infection, followed by a secondary sphincter-preserving repair once tissue inflammation clears.
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Recurrent or Complex Fistulas (e.g., Crohn’s Disease or Multi-Branching Tracts): Tracts with multiple external openings or prior failed surgeries. Treatment: Tailored multi-disciplinary care, high-resolution pelvic MRI mapping, medical optimization, and advanced sphincter-sparing flap or seton therapy.
Reviewing these records before or during the first visit helps Dr. Bhatt understand previous treatment and determine whether additional imaging or examination is necessary.
Dr. Bhatt coordinates closely with primary physicians and gastroenterologists to align your treatment plan.
Patients with severe anal pain, rapidly increasing swelling, fever, chills, spreading redness, or difficulty urinating may have an abscess or another urgent condition.Call the office for guidance.
The office can help determine whether the patient’s insurance requires a referral, prior authorization, or fistula surgery.
We accept most commercial insurance plans, Medicare, Medicaid, and self-pay options. Call our office at (954) 388-0860 or book online to verify your benefits and schedule an anal fistula consultation in South Florida.
