Conditions/Anal Fistula/Chapter
Anal Fistula — Laser Fistula Treatment (FiLaC)
Sphincter-sparing laser ablation
FiLaC passes a thin laser fiber through the fistula tract to ablate the lining from inside, aiming to close the channel without cutting the sphincter. It suits selected anatomy in experienced centers. Short-term results are reasonable in many series; long-term healing data are more limited than for classic techniques.
Who may be a candidate?
- Selected transsphincteric tracts
- Continence preservation priority
- No active large abscess cavity
- Often after seton preparation
Key points
- Expectation managementTap for details · key note inside
Not a one-needle cure. Success varies; recurrence may need LIFT, flap, or another sphincter-sparing option.
- Possible advantagesTap for details
No sphincter division, smaller wound, faster return to routine in many patients.
- LimitationsTap for details
Active sepsis, horseshoe branches, or very wide tracts may need drainage/seton first.
- FiLaC vs VAAFTTap for details
VAAFT uses video to debride the tract; FiLaC uses laser energy to obliterate the channel—they are different tools.
More chapters in this hub
Anal Fistula Symptoms
Discharge, recurrent abscess, and urgent warning signs
Anal Fistula Diagnosis
Exam, MRI mapping, and Parks classification
Anal Fistula Treatment Options
Fistulotomy, seton, LIFT, flap, and other options
Anal Fistula Classification
Classification — explained for shared decision-making
Fistulotomy
Lay-open for selected low, simple tracks
Seton for Anal Fistula
Seton: what the procedure aims to do and who it fits
Living with a Seton
Hygiene, activity, and warning signs while draining
LIFT Procedure for Anal Fistula
LIFT: what the procedure aims to do and who it fits
Advancement Flap
Sphincter-sparing closure of the internal opening
Crohn’s and Anal Fistula
Medical therapy plus drainage/seton — shared plan
Anal Fistula Technique Comparison
Comparison — explained for shared decision-making
After Fistula Surgery
Wound care, soft stools, and return to activity
Fistula Recurrence
Why tracks return and how the next plan is built
What Causes an Anal Fistula?
Abscess, Crohn’s, and other triggers
Abscess and Fistula Link
Infection first, tunnel second
VAAFT
Video-assisted fistula treatment
Fistula Plug and Fibrin Glue
Filling the tract without cutting
Continence Risk in Fistula Surgery
Protecting control while healing
Appointment / info
This page is for education. It is not medical advice and does not replace a visit with your physician.
Medical editor: Assoc. Prof. Cengiz Dibekoğlu, MD · Last medically reviewed: August 2026 · English patient-education chapter.