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Anal Fissure Center - Grand Junction, CO

Grand Junction Gastroenterologist Doctors for Anal Fissure

Type of Physician: Gastroenterologist

What is a Gastroenterologist?

A subspecialty certification by the Board of Internal Medicine; practitioners focus on the stomach, intestines, colon, liver, and gallbladder (digestive organs). The gastroenterologist treats conditions such as abdominal pain, ulcers, diarrhea, cancer, and jaundice and they consult with surgeons when abdominal operations are indicated.

Specialty: Gastroenterology

Common Name: GI Doctor

Gastroenterologist Doctors in Grand Junction *

Grand Junction Gastroenterology & Endoscopy Center
Brent Prosser
1035 Wellington Ave
Grand Junction, CO 81501
(970) 242-6600

Grand Junction Gastroenterology & Endoscopy Center
Steven D Seagren
1035 Wellington Ave
Grand Junction, CO 81501
(970) 242-6600

Grand Junction Gastroenterology & Endoscopy Center
Peter Walsh
1035 Wellington Ave
Grand Junction, CO 81501
(970) 242-6600

Glenwood Medical Associates
Alton K Hughes
1830 Blake Ave
FL FL 1
Glenwood Springs, CO 81601
(970) 945-8503

Glenwood Medical Associates
Gerard I Tomasso
1830 Blake Ave
FL FL 1
Glenwood Springs, CO 81601
(970) 945-8503

Grand Junction, Colorado

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Anal Fissure

What are anal fissures?

An anal fissure is a cut or tear occuring in the anus (the opening through which stool passes out of the body) that extends upwards into the anal canal. Fissures are a common condition of the anus and anal canal and are responsible for 6-15% of the visits to a colonic and rectal (colorectal) surgeon. They affect men and women equally and both the young and the old. Fissures usually cause pain during bowel movements that often is severe. Anal fissure is the most common cause of rectal bleeding in infancy.

Anal fissures occur in the specialized tissue that lines the anus and anal canal, called anoderm. At a line just inside the anus--referred to as the anal verge or intersphincteric groove--the skin (dermis) of the inner buttocks changes to anoderm. Unlike skin, anoderm has no hairs, sweat glands, or sebaceous (oil) glands and contains a larger number of somatic sensory nerves that sense light touch and pain. (The abundance of nerves explains why anal fissures are so painful.) The hairless, gland-less, extremely sensitive anoderm continues for the entire length of the anal canal until it meets the demarcating line for the rectum, called the dentate line. (The rectum is the distal 15 cm of the colon that lies just above the anus and rectum and just below the sigmoid colon.)

What causes anal fissures?

Anal fissures are caused by trauma to the anus and anal canal. The cause of the trauma usually is a bowel movement, and many patients can remember the exact bowel movement during which their pain began. The fissure may be caused by a hard stool or repeated episodes of diarrhea. Occasionally, the insertion of a rectal thermometer, enema tip, endoscope, or ultrasound probe (for examining the prostate gland) can result in sufficient trauma to produce a fissure. During childbirth, trauma to the perineum (the skin between t...

Recommended Reading Related to Anal Fissure

Flexible Sigmoidoscopy »

What is flexible sigmoidoscopy?

Flexible sigmoidoscopy is a procedure that allows your doctor to examine the rectum and the lower (sigmoid) colon. The flexible sigmoidoscope is a flexible tube 60 cm long and about the thickness of your little finger. It is inserted gently into the anus and advanced slowly into the rectum and the lower colon. It is an accurate and simple method of investigating the cause of rectal bleeding, change in bowel habit, and rectal symptoms such as pain and diarrhea. Flexible sigmoidoscopy also is a part of colon screening and surveillance for colon cancer.

What is the preparation for flexible sigmoidoscopy?

In order to obtain accurate results, the rectum and the lower colon must be completely clean of stool. Your doctor will give you detailed instructions on how to cleanse your colon. In general, this requires the use of one or two enemas prior to the procedure and may also call for a laxative and some dietar...

Emergency Contact for Grand Junction

  • In case of Emergency, call 911

Nearby Grand Junction Hospitals *

Grand Junction VA Medical Center
2121 North Ave
Grand Junction, CO 81501
(970)242-0731

Community Hospital
2021 N 12th St
Grand Junction, CO 81501
(970)242-0920

St Mary's Hospital & Medical Center
2635 N Seventh St
Grand Junction, CO 81502
(970)244-2273

Family Health West
228 N Cherry St
Fruita, CO 81521
(970)858-9871

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