Fissures are a break in the mucosa (lining) of the anus that causes pain (usually like broken glass or a tear) and bright rectal bleeding. It is benign and can usually be treated by ointments.  It takes a few weeks for the symptoms to settle and the break to heal.

Occasionally surgery may be needed to sort the problem out.

Involuntary leakage of faeces (liquid or solid) through the anus.  Usually due to weakness of muscles around the anus. There are multiple causes but more commonly, it is found in women who have had children. It tends to present years after their children with the onset of age when muscles are weaker.

Treatment varies. It includes simple measures like suppsositories, biofeedback. However surgery may be needed in some patients.

Bowel cancer is the second most common cancer. It affects the anus, rectum and the colon.  Majority of patients affected are over 40. Symptoms include rectal bleeding, change in bowel habit. Both of these are also common in other benign conditions.  In more urgent cases, there could be bowel blockage.

Most cases of bowel cancer are treatable and this is ususally by surgery.  In anal cancers, it usually with radiotherapy and chemotherapy.  In other cases, all three could be used in various combination.  More Information.

Diverticular disease are pouches on the surface of the large bowel (colon). The begin to form in the 40s and the proportion of people who get it increase with age.

Most are not symptomatic. Some people will have pain, others erratic bowel habit. Most often, treatment is dietary and occasionally, use of fibre laxatives.

Occasionally, complications happen. Inflammation, bleeding, narrowing that may necessitate hospital admission and in very small number, an operation involving removing the piece of bowel involved.

Abnormal connection between the skin around the anus and the anal canal itself. This usually follows a previous abscess. Occasionally it may be a result of more serious conditions.

Many patients have symptoms of repeated swellings that then dicharges. This usually after a previous abscess.

Usually surgery is need to treat it

This is an endoscopic (camera) examination of the large bowel (colon).  It needs special preparation to clear the bowel out.  This usually involves being on low residue diet for a few days before the test and on the day before, to take strong laxatives to clear the bowel out.

At the time of the colonoscopy, most patients are given a sedative and pain killers to relax them during the test.  It however can still be uncomfortable for some patients.

This is an operationt to remove part of the large bowel (colon).  This is a major operation done for both benign (diverticular) and malignant (cancer) conditions.

We now offer every one key-hole (laparoscopic) surgery but this may not be possible in everybody.  It is a major operation that does carry some risks.