Please help!!!! Surgery for fistula closure

Ok I kind of fell stupid writing this, b/c I guess I should have asked my surgeon more questions but I'm really confused and need some answers and help.

I've been diagnosed with crohns for about 4 years now and have had problems with perianal abcesses.  about 3 years ago they made a fistual to drain the abcess that closed and they did it again.  I then was supposed to wait and have more suregery bt I went ahead and had a baby.  I had my son just over a year ago and have been waiting for a surgery to fix tihis stupid draining fistula.  Got a call and went in last Thursday for surgery.  I think what he said he did was seton placement and there would be silk that he woudl tighten.  This is where I'm lost..... if he is tightening a silk string am I supposed to have a string hanging out of the fistual hole????

Somebody please help me answer this, my surgeon is away until nest week sometime and no one at his office can seem to answer my questions.  I'm kind of starting to freak out!!!!

Please help

that's the fun part about fistulas...setons.  I have had many, but none that had to be tightened.  Don't freak out, you'll be okay.  The seton keeps the fistula draining so it isn't necessarily a "fix" but a treatment.  There are surgeries (as well as drugs) that can close fistulas but you'll have to ask your doc if you are a candidate.  I tried MANY times, to have mine closed surgically (and with meds), but it wasn't in the cards for me.  Make sure you call your doc when they're back to get all your answers!