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Perianal abscess
How long does it take for a perianal abscess to heal after surgery?
After surgery for a perianal abscess, the local wound is relatively large, and there will be fresh granulation tissue and secretions on the wound, so the healing time mainly depends on the size of the wound and the degree of inflammatory infection. If it is a superficial perianal abscess with a small local wound, the recovery time after surgery generally requires about ten days. If the abscess cavity of the perianal abscess is large or has multiple openings, accompanied by local sphincter infectious symptoms, the recovery time after surgery may take about three to four weeks. In order to promote the rapid healing of the local wound, it is necessary to disinfect and change dressings after surgery, as well as local drainage. Generally, gauze impregnated with oil is selected to compress and drain the wound locally. If the wound drainage is unobstructed, the natural healing time is faster.
Can an anal abscess be treated without surgery?
Perianal abscess is a local infectious disease of the anus, typically occurring acutely with severe pain. The nature of the pain mostly involves jumping pain or peck-like pain. Patients also experience redness and swelling of the skin around the anus, as well as an increase in overall body temperature. Chronic recurrent attacks can lead to fatigue and further spreading of the abscess, causing enlargement of the local abscess cavity and even triggering a systemic infection. Therefore, it is essential to undergo surgical treatment as soon as possible during the acute phase of a perianal abscess. The main surgical methods are incision and drainage of the perianal abscess or a one-time radical surgery around the anus. Postoperative wound disinfection and dressing changes should be carefully attended to.
Where to apply moxibustion for perianal abscess?
Perianal abscess is an acute infectious disease in proctology caused by bacterial infection of the anus. This condition is not suitable for moxibustion. Asking where to apply moxibustion in this case is really unanswerable. The best treatment for a perianal abscess is surgery and choosing antibiotics to perform anti-infection treatment promptly, rather than using moxibustion.
Incidence of recurrence after radical surgery for perianal abscess
If a perianal abscess is treated with a one-time radical surgery, the recurrence rate is very low. However, it is still necessary for the patient to develop good dietary and bowel habits post-surgery. Since the main cause of perianal abscesses is repeated infection in the anal crypts locally, it is essential to maintain a light diet and regular bowel movements to prevent symptoms of diarrhea. If chronic diarrhea occurs, it may lead to the retention of infectious materials in the anal crypts, causing repeated infections there. Moreover, if the patient does not maintain a light diet, it might further aggravate the infection, leading to recurrence. If postoperative patients pay attention to a light diet and regular bowel movements, the possibility of recurrence is very low.
Can a perianal abscess be treated with hot compresses?
Hot compress therapy for perianal abscesses is typically chosen after surgery. Prior to surgery, due to the formation of a typical pus cavity in the perianal abscess and the encapsulation of pus fluid, it is an acute infectious foci. Using hot compress therapy can easily lead to further aggravation of the local infection or spread of the pus cavity, which may worsen the condition. Therefore, hot compresses are not recommended before surgery. After promptly conducting surgery on a perianal abscess, since the local wound contains infectious material, it is suitable to fumigate and apply hot compresses postoperatively to disinfect the local wound further, and to manage residual fecal matter to prevent infection. Additionally, changing dressings is necessary to promote the fresh growth of normal granulation tissue, thus leading to the proper healing of the wound rather than pseudohealing or infection.
Initial symptoms of perianal abscess
The primary cause of perianal abscesses is recurrent infections at the anal crypts, also known as repeated episodes of cryptitis. Generally, when cryptitis recurs and forms a local infection foci, early symptoms of a perianal abscess include pain in the anus and anal canal, accompanied by pus discharge from the anal canal. When the condition progresses to a certain extent, there will be hard pus pockets or pus formation. Once the infection within the pus pocket completely turns into pus, the patient will experience intense pain, manifesting as throbbing pain. Therefore, to alleviate the pain, it is necessary to promptly incise and drain the pus and further remove the local infection foci completely.
Postoperative Precautions for Perianal Abscess Surgery
After surgery for a perianal abscess, it is important to focus on the diet, primarily a liquid diet, since normal defecation is not advised in the early postoperative period or if the stool is too dry to avoid irritating the wound with feces, causing pain or even symptoms of infection. Therefore, the postoperative diet should primarily consist of a light, liquid diet. Postoperatively, since there will be local sutures and ligatures tied at the wound site, it is not recommended to engage in excessive exercise and activity within two weeks. The recovery of the local wound after surgery requires proper dressing changes. Postoperative dressing changes involve daily cleaning and disinfection of the local wound, ensuring smooth drainage, and using gauze packing to pressurize and drain the wound.
Will surgery still be performed if a perianal abscess has ruptured?
After a perianal abscess ruptures on its own, a fistula-in-ano has formed, which cannot be completely cured by conservative medication. The main treatment method is still surgery, so further surgical treatment is required after the rupture of the perianal abscess. The surgical approach for a perianal abscess or fistula mainly involves an incision and seton technique, preserving the function of the local sphincter as much as possible while thoroughly removing the infection foci to allow the growth of fresh granulation tissue. Post-operation care requires attention to dressing changes, especially during the early stages of the wound when there may be secretions. It is crucial to thoroughly remove these secretions and apply appropriate hemorrhoids ointment or growth-promoting agents to facilitate the healing and growth of the local mucosa.
What are the early symptoms of perianal abscess?
The early symptoms of a perianal abscess mainly manifest as a red and swollen lump around the anus, which is noticeably painful to touch, and feels warm. As the lump grows and purulence develops, a fluctuation sensation can be felt upon touching. In severe cases, patients may even experience systemic symptoms such as fever and night sweats. For a perianal abscess, it is recommended that patients visit the proctology department of a hospital as soon as possible to undergo procedures like incision and drainage of the abscess, or a radical surgery for perianal abscess. Relying solely on medication can delay treatment and cause the abscess to spread further, potentially leading to necrotizing fasciitis or anal fistula. A perianal abscess is typically caused by an infection of the anal glands, which spreads from inside the anal canal to the surrounding areas. Simple medication treatment cannot eradicate the infection source; therefore, it is advisable to opt for surgical treatment as soon as a perianal abscess is detected.
The difference between perianal abscess and hemorrhoids
Perianal abscess and hemorrhoids are two different types of common anorectal diseases. When a perianal abscess occurs, the onset is generally sudden and there is severe pain in the anal area. Under the skin of the anal area or inside the anal canal, a submucosal abscess forms, encapsulating pus. Surgical treatment is required as soon as possible to prevent further spread of the abscess cavity. Hemorrhoids, on the other hand, are caused by the long-term and repeated accumulation of local tissues in the anal area, leading to the formation of blood clots or varicose vein masses. These generally occur near or around the dentate line, and may also be accompanied by skin tags of external hemorrhoids.