How to find the internal opening of a perianal abscess?

Written by Chen Tian Jing
Colorectal Surgery
Updated on September 03, 2024
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The internal opening of a perianal abscess is mainly identified through digital rectal examination and with the aid of a probe and perianal ultrasonography. Typically, during the onset of a perianal abscess, there is noticeable redness, swelling, heat, and pain around the anus. Inside the anal canal, digital rectal examination and anoscopy reveal swollen mucosa at the anal crypt, accompanied by the discharge of pus. Using a probe for exploration can clearly identify the presence of the internal opening locally. Once the internal opening of a perianal abscess is located, prompt surgical treatment is necessary. Surgery for perianal abscesses generally involves a one-time radical procedure complemented by incision and drainage. If an internal opening exists and involves the sphincter, further surgery involving incision, drainage, and seton placement may be required.

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Causes of perianal abscess formation in babies

In pediatric outpatient surgery, perianal abscesses are not uncommon, and many parents visit the hospital daily for this issue. They wait, register, and change dressings. Once the wound heals, it often recurs after a while, leading to repeated incisions and drainage, persisting for several months. Eventually, the doctors say a fistula has formed and surgery is required. What exactly causes such troublesome perianal abscesses? The cause of perianal abscesses is not completely clear, but many affected children have been found to have deeper anal crypts than normal, so it's speculated that it may be related to this abnormality. In children under two years old, perianal abscesses mostly occur in boys. Some studies suggest that testosterone levels are higher in boys aged 1-3 months, coinciding with a peak period for perianal abscess incidences, leading to speculation that it may be related to the child’s hormone levels. In children over two years old, there is less gender bias in the incidence of perianal abscesses, and some cases are secondary to Crohn’s disease.

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Colorectal Surgery
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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.

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Written by Yu Xu Chao
Colorectal Surgery
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Can an anal abscess without pus be treated without surgery?

Perianal abscesses require surgical treatment even if there is no pus present, as early-stage perianal abscesses are primarily characterized by pain and noticeable lumps near the anus, with the lumps typically being hard. This condition is mainly considered to be an infection and inflammation of the anal glands, which then infects the surrounding tissue, leading to the development of lumps. Surgical treatment should be undertaken as soon as possible even in the absence of pus, because as the infection worsens over time, it may lead to the formation of pus. Early treatment can be advantageous as the infected area is not very extensive, thus resulting in a smaller surgical wound. For early-stage perianal abscesses, a one-time radical surgery may be chosen to remove the internal opening and the infected tissue thoroughly, followed by postoperative care using medicated substances such as erythromycin ointment gauze, anal washes, or mupirocin ointment to promote healing of the surgical wound.

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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.

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How many days does the skin around an anal abscess fall off?

During the acute phase of a perianal abscess, if rubber band ligation surgery is performed, the duration of the rubber band falling off generally depends on the location of the lesion. For superficial local perianal abscesses, the rubber band typically falls off within one to ten days. For high-position complex perianal abscesses or those accompanied by anal fistulas, the falling off of the rubber band might take about ten days. In some cases where the rubber band falls off slowly, it may require a doctor's dressing change and assistance to weaken or detach the local rubber band. Do not pull off the rubber band yourself to avoid injuring the local sphincter, which could lead to decreased or abnormal tightness around the anus.