Anal Fissure Center - Petaluma, CA
Petaluma Gastroenterologist Doctors for Anal FissureType 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 Petaluma * Laurence J Mazzotta MD  Barbara L Nylund MD  Marin Gastroenterology  Marin Gastroenterology  Marin Gastroenterology  Marin Gastroenterology  Marin Gastroenterology  Marin Gastroenterology  GI Associates  Santa Rosa Gastroenterology Medical Associates Inc  GI Associates  Santa Rosa Gastroenterology Medical Associates Inc  GI Associates  Santa Rosa Gastroenterology Medical Associates Inc  Kaiser Permanente Santa Rosa  Freeto & Talley MDs  Freeto & Talley MDs  Vallejo Medical Center  Vallejo Medical Center  Vallejo Medical Center  Vallejo Medical Center  Center for Digestive Disorders  Center for Digestive Disorders  Vallejo Medical Center  Vallejo Medical Center  Vallejo Medical Center  Vallejo Medical Center  Vallejo Medical Center  Center for Digestive Disorders  Vallejo Medical Center  Vallejo Medical Center  Vallejo Medical Center  VA Hospital  UCSF VA Medical Center  John C Fletcher MD & William Parmer MD Inc  US & International Medicine Wing K King MD  DR, MARTIN S. LIBERMAN  Doctors Office  Stephen C Pardys MD  Doctors Office  Doctors Office  Patrick Y Wong MD  Pacific Heights Medical Group  Pacific Internal Medicine Associates  Interventional Endoscopy Services  California Pacific Medical Center Gastroenterology  Pacific Internal Medicine Associates  California Pacific Medical Center Gastroenterology  Daniel Conlin MD  Pacific Internal Medicine Associates  California Pacific Medical Center Gastroenterology  Pacific Internal Medicine Associates  PACIFIC INTERNAL MEDICINE ASSOCIATES  Pacific Internal Medicine Associates  California Pacific Medical Center Gastroenterology  Interventional Endoscopy Services  California Pacific Medical Center Gastroenterology  North East Medical Service  California Pacific Medical Center Department of Gastroenterology  Womens Health Care Clinic  UCSF Medical Center Gastroenterology  UCSF The Comprehensive Cancer Center  UCSF Medical Center Gastroenterology  UCSF Medical Center Gastroenterology  Frank J Farrell MD  Malin Aubry Gores Wang Haddad & Sankaran  Frank S Yang MD  San Francisco Digestive Disease Inc  San Francisco Digestive Disease Inc  San Francisco Digestive Disease Inc  Dennis L Hamby MD  UCSF Medical Center Gastroenterology  UCSF Medical Center Gastroenterology  UCSF Medical Center Gastroenterology  UCSF Medical Center Gastroenterology  UCSF Medical Center Gastroenterology  UCSF Medical Center Gastroenterology  UCSF Gastroenterology  Dean L Rider MD  UCSF Medical Center Gastroenterology  H David Watts MD  UCSF Medical Center Gastroenterology  UCSF Medical Center Gastroenterology  Robert J Elsen MD  Sunset Health Services  Family Doctor Medical Group  NorthBay Healthcare  Gastroenterology Associates of the East Bay  Gastroenterology Associates of the East Bay  Gastroenterology Associates of the East Bay  Northern California Gastroenterology Consultants  Gastroenterology Associates of the East Bay  Gastroenterology Associates of the East Bay  Gastroenterology Associates of the East Bay  Gastroenterology Associates of the East Bay  Gastroenterology Associates of the East Bay  Northern California Gastroenterology Consultants  Gastroenterology Associates of the East Bay  Northern California Gastroenterology Consultants  Northern California Gastroenterology Consultants Petaluma, CaliforniaUpcoming Local Events2012-06-16
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Anal FissureRead the Anal Fissure article » 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 FissureWhat 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... Other Related Anal Fissure ArticlesEmergency Contact for Petaluma
Nearby Petaluma Hospitals *Petaluma Valley Hospital Novato Community Hospital Sonoma Valley Hospital Kaiser Permanente San Rafael Medical Center Kentfield Rehabilitation & Specialty Hospital Marin General Hospital Napa State Hospital Queen of the Valley Medical Center Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital Main Campus Palm Drive Hospital Kaiser Permanente Vallejo Medical Center St Helena Hospital Center for Behavioral Health Sutter Solano Medical Center Sutter Medical Center of Santa Rosa Chanate Campus Kaiser Permanente Santa Rosa Medical Center Doctor's Medical Center San Pablo St Helena Hospital Contra Costa Regional Medical Center Telecare Solano Psychiatric Health Facility Alta Bates Summit Medical Center Herrick Campus San Francisco VA Medical Center California Pacific Medical Center California Campus California Pacific Medical Center East Campus California Pacific Medical Center Pacific Campus Chinese Hospital UCSF Medical Center at Mount Zion VA Northern CA Healthcare System at Martinez Alta Bates Summit Medical Center Alta Bates Campus Kaiser Permanente San Francisco Medical Center Saint Francis Memorial Hospital NorthBay Medical Center St Mary's Medical Center Children's Hospital & Research Center Oakland California Pacific Medical Center Davies Campus UCSF Medical Center at Parnassus Alta Bates Summit Medical Center Summit Campus Kaiser Permanente Medical Center at Oakland Laguna Honda Hospital & Rehabilitation Center San Francisco General Hospital St Luke's Hospital John Muir Behavioral Health Center Alameda County Medical Center Highland Campus John Muir Medical Center Concord Campus Healdsburg District Hospital Alameda Hospital Featured Articles*Provider Directory Terms of Use: The WebMD 'Provider Directory' is provided by WebMD for use by the general public as a quick reference of information about Providers. The Provider Directory is not intended as a tool for verifying the credentials, qualifications, or abilities of any Provider contained therein. Inclusion in the Provider Directory does not imply recommendation or endorsement nor does omission in the Provider Directory imply WebMD disapproval. |
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Related Diseases & Conditions
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Rectal Bleeding (Blood in Stool, Hematochezia)
- Rectal bleeding (hematochezia) refers to the passage of bright red blood from the anus. Rectal bleeding may be moderate to severe and most bleeding comes from the colon, rectum, or anus. Common causes include anal fissures, hemorrhoids, diverticulitis, and more.
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Hemorrhoids
- Hemorrhoid is an enlarged vein in the walls of the anus and sometimes around the rectum, usually caused by untreated constipation, but occasionally associated with chronic diarrhea. If untreated, hemorrhoids can worsen, protruding from the anus. Also known as piles.
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Constipation
- Constipation is defined medically as fewer than three stools per week and severe constipation as less than one stool per week. Constipation usually is caused by the slow movement of stool through the colon. There are many causes of constipation including medications, poor bowel habits, low fiber diets, abuse of laxatives, hormonal disorders, and diseases primarily of other parts of the body that also affect the colon.
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Anal Itching
- Anal itching is the irritation of the skin at the exit of the rectum, known as the anus, accompanied by the desire to scratch. Causes include everything from irritating foods we eat, to certain disease and infections. Treatment options include local anesthetics, vasoconstrictors, protectants, astringents, antiseptics, keratolytics, analgesics, and corticosteroids. If condition persists, a doctor examination may be needed to identify an underlying cause.
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Laxatives for Constipation
- Laxatives for treatment of constipation include over-the-counter preparations such as bulk-forming laxatives, stool softeners, lubricant laxatives, stimulant laxatives, saline laxatives, enemas and suppositories. Some over-the-counter laxatives are not recommended for patients with specific diseases or conditions. Some laxatives may have negative adverse effects if taken over long periods of time.
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Rectal Bleeding (Blood in Stool, Hematochezia)
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