Perianal abscess
![doctor image](https://en-resource.pule.com/doctor/avatar/16f609b7b4c5c032.jpeg)
![home-news-image](/static/img/i_s_voice.webp)
Differences between minimally invasive surgery and traditional surgery for perianal abscess
In clinical practice, perianal abscesses are primarily due to infection and inflammation of the anal glands, which then leads to the formation of red and swollen masses around the anus, causing pain and swelling near the anus. If not treated surgically in a timely manner, it can lead to necrotizing fasciitis or anal fistulas. Minimally invasive surgery for perianal abscesses mainly aims to minimize damage to the anal sphincter during the procedure. Techniques such as loop drainage can be employed to preserve it, whereas traditional surgery generally involves larger incisions, but provides better drainage and has a lower recurrence rate post-operatively. However, leakage or moisture in the anal area can occur after traditional surgery. For minimally invasive surgery for perianal abscesses, there is a relatively higher recurrence rate since the drainage may not be as effective. However, the integrity of the anus post-surgery is better preserved and incidents of leakage are less frequent. The choice of surgical method should still be based on the severity of the perianal abscess.
![doctor image](https://en-resource.pule.com/doctor/avatar/16f609b7b4c5c032.jpeg)
![home-news-image](/static/img/i_s_voice.webp)
Can a perianal abscess burst on its own after it forms pus?
After an anal abscess becomes purulent, one should not attempt to rupture it on their own. If purulence occurs, it is advised to perform local disinfection under a doctor's supervision, followed by incision and drainage or pus aspiration to prevent further infection. Attempting to rupture it on your own can easily lead to further aggravation of the local infection. After an anal abscess becomes purulent, the choice of incision location is crucial; once cut, it is necessary to maintain unobstructed drainage to avoid subsequent infection or even necrotizing fasciitis. In clinical practice regarding anal abscesses, it is advised to visit a colorectal surgery department at a hospital as soon as the abscess is detected, to undergo procedures such as incision and drainage or radical surgery of the anal abscess to avoid the later development of anal fistulas or necrotizing fasciitis. Post-surgery, medications such as red oil gauze strips, anal cleansing solutions, and aureomycin ointment are recommended for dressing changes.
![doctor image](https://en-resource.pule.com/doctor/avatar/16f6086636666b9e.jpeg)
![home-news-image](/static/img/i_s_voice.webp)
How should a perianal abscess be treated effectively?
During the acute phase of a perianal abscess, there is generally severe pain in the anal area, accompanied by redness and throbbing of the skin, and there may be a pus cavity or pus encapsulation under the skin. The treatment of perianal abscess is mainly surgical. The surgical method is incision and drainage, combined with a one-time radical surgery. If the infection involves the local sphincter or has already formed a clear fistula, further incision and ligation surgery may be required. After surgery, it is necessary to thoroughly disinfect and change the dressings of the wound to prevent excessive granulation or the formation of false healing at the local wound. Postoperative diet should consist mainly of light, liquid foods, and spicy and irritating foods should be avoided.
![doctor image](https://en-resource.pule.com/doctor/avatar/16f6086636666b9e.jpeg)
![home-news-image](/static/img/i_s_voice.webp)
What will happen if a perianal abscess is not treated?
Perianal abscesses are localized abscess formations that occur due to repeated infections in the anal crypts. Typically, under perianal ultrasonography, clear pus chambers and related structures can be observed. If perianal abscesses are not treated promptly, there is a high likelihood of expansion of the local pus chambers and dispersion of the pus, leading to an increase in the size of local anal abscesses, which might involve the sacrococcygeal area or the intersphincteric space. The primary treatment for perianal abscesses is surgical, mainly through incision and drainage to evacuate the pus, followed by thorough debridement of the local wound. Additionally, if there are changes in the local sphincter, thread-lifting therapy may also be performed.
![doctor image](https://en-resource.pule.com/doctor/avatar/16f5dbff33210127.jpeg)
![home-news-image](/static/img/i_s_voice.webp)
Can a perianal abscess in children heal by itself?
Although they are all perianal abscesses, each child's condition is different. The size of the perianal abscesses varies; some are as small as a grain of rice and may heal on their own, but there are also larger ones the size of a walnut, or even cause the entire buttock area to become swollen and red. Such cases require hospitalization, especially for younger children who also exhibit systemic symptoms like fever. They generally require hospital treatment. Meanwhile, it is recommended that parents take good care of the baby's perianal area, maintain a healthy diet and bowel habits, avoid diarrhea and constipation, ensure cleanliness around the anal area, and use soft, non-irritating wet wipes when cleaning the area to avoid friction injuries that could lead to infections, as the skin of small infants is very delicate.
![doctor image](https://en-resource.pule.com/doctor/avatar/16f6086636666b9e.jpeg)
![home-news-image](/static/img/i_s_voice.webp)
Anal abscess should visit which department?
Perianal abscess is a common disease in proctology, generally involving an infection of the local anal crypts and submucosal tissues near the anus. When a perianal abscess acutely flares, it is necessary to register with the department of coloproctology and undergo surgical treatment as soon as possible to prevent the abscess from expanding and leading to a systemic infection. The primary surgical treatment for perianal abscesses is a onetime radical surgery, but when there are changes resembling anal fistulas or leakage, options may also include incision, drainage, and seton procedures. After surgery, it is necessary to disinfect the local wound daily and ensure that the wound drainage is unobstructed.
![doctor image](https://en-resource.pule.com/doctor/avatar/16f6086636666b9e.jpeg)
![home-news-image](/static/img/i_s_voice.webp)
Can conservative treatment be effective for perianal abscesses?
Conservative treatment of perianal abscesses can only relieve temporary inflammatory symptoms and cannot achieve a curative effect. There is also the potential for conservative treatment to delay the condition, leading to an increase in the size of the abscess cavity or the rapid expansion of pus, thereby exacerbating the condition. Once a perianal abscess is identified, surgical treatment should be carried out as soon as possible. First, the abscess cavity needs to be opened, and the enclosed pus drained completely, and then either a local incision with suture or debridement surgery chosen for treatment. Additionally, it is necessary to maintain the normal function of the anal sphincter. If only conservative medication is used for a perianal abscess, it can only temporarily relieve the current symptoms and does not benefit the healing of the disease or its long-term development at all.
![doctor image](https://en-resource.pule.com/doctor/avatar/16f6086636666b9e.jpeg)
![home-news-image](/static/img/i_s_voice.webp)
Can you drink alcohol with a perianal abscess?
Patients with perianal abscess should not drink alcohol. Long-term or excessive alcohol consumption, due to the effects of evaporation or sublimation, can cause local congestion and edema at the anus, and may also increase the risk of infection. As perianal abscess is a local infectious disease of the anus, not only should alcohol be avoided during the acute phase, but prompt surgical treatment is also necessary. If a patient with a perianal abscess does not undergo timely surgical intervention, the pus cavity may expand and the abscess may further spread and rupture, potentially forming an anal fistula. Excessive drinking could lead to worsened local inflammatory symptoms, resulting in an increase in pus and possibly enhancing pain or infection, leading to a more extensive infection in the anal area. Therefore, patients with a perianal abscess should not consume alcohol.
![doctor image](https://en-resource.pule.com/doctor/avatar/16f6086636666b9e.jpeg)
![home-news-image](/static/img/i_s_voice.webp)
Can you eat mutton with a perianal abscess?
During the acute phase of a perianal abscess, do not consume mutton, as it is considered a "heaty" food. Excessive consumption of mutton may lead to congestion of the local rectal and anal mucosa, which can potentially cause enlargement of the local abscess or worsen the condition. The primary treatment for a perianal abscess is surgical, and the diet following surgery should consist mainly of light and easily digestible liquid foods. To avoid the pain associated with overly dry stools in the early stages, patients can consume more vegetables, fruits, and a suitable amount of staple foods.
![doctor image](https://en-resource.pule.com/doctor/avatar/16f6086636666b9e.jpeg)
![home-news-image](/static/img/i_s_voice.webp)
Which department should I go to for perianal abscess?
During the acute phase of a perianal abscess, patients experience significant local redness, swelling, heat, and pain around the anus. The pain is severe and in some cases, patients are unable to sit or walk normally due to the discomfort. During this acute phase, the swelling of the skin around the anus can easily be confused with skin carbuncles, leading patients to mistakenly visit a dermatologist. However, a perianal abscess is a local anal disease that requires registration with a colorectal surgery department, as it is not merely a skin carbuncle but an infection caused by an infection at the anal crypts inside the anal canal. This necessitates prompt surgical incision and drainage, and, if a fistula has formed, a fistulotomy may also be necessary.