What is seton placement?

Hi Minnietoty....

The seton is a wire or elastic type band that goes through the fistula tract and out the side of your anus. A draining seton does not cut the anal sphincter.....but the cutting one dos cut through the fistula tract to form scar tissue (I believe).

The draining seton just keeps the tract open so the abscess can drain. Which kind does your GI suggest?

I had a draining seton put in a couple years ago. This has not and should not create any issues with fecal continence. I still have it in and if I choose so it can remain there for the rest of my life. Cleaning after a BM can be challenging and due to the stiffness of the seton it can cause minor bleeding and fissures if you are wiping to aggressively. But other than that since it was put it in, I have had no discharging because it remains open all the time. When my crohnes symptoms start advancing and I need a prescription change, my GI said Remicade will be the first thing we try. I also use a cream to help with days I have lots of BM's...cause it can get very tender down there. Hope this helps.....