Treatment of anal abscesses

An anal abscess is a type of bacterial infection that develops in the area around the anus. It is a localized collection of pus located in the soft tissues near the anus and rectum. An anal abscess can form just beneath the skin at the edge of the anus or much deeper near the rectal wall.

Anal abscess is a condition that occurs more frequently in men than in women. It can also develop in patients suffering from chronic intestinal diseases.

The direct cause of perianal abscess formation is the blockage of the openings of the anal glands and infection by bacteria commonly present on the skin and within the intestinal lumen, such as staphylococci, streptococci, or enteric bacilli.

The main symptoms of perianal abscess include:

• fever, chills, weakness;
• pain in the anal area of varying intensity, often severe and sharp, sometimes pulsating, worsening when sitting or coughing,
• urge to defecate;
• palpable painful swelling near the anus with redness of the surrounding skin or inside the anal canal or rectum.

Causes of perianal abscess formation:

The main causes of perianal abscesses include:

• occurrence of diarrhea,
• anal intercourse,
• insertion of foreign bodies into the anus,
• inflammation of tissues located in the pelvic area,
• presence of other conditions such as:
• thrombosis within hemorrhoidal veins;
• Crohn’s disease;
• ulcerative colitis;
• injury and surgical procedures in the anal area;
• damage to the skin or mucous membrane of the anus or rectum during enema administration or by a sharp object in the stool, such as a fish bone or eggshell;
• existence of an anal fissure.

Treatment of perianal abscesses

Treatment of perianal abscesses involves a surgical procedure consisting of adequately wide incision of the pus collection to allow removal of its contents and thorough cleaning of the abscess cavity. A suitable drain is placed at the incision site to enable proper drainage of pus and healing of the lesion. In cases of deeper abscesses, the incision and drainage are performed from the rectal lumen side.

As adjunctive treatment, appropriate antibiotic therapy based on culture results from abscess material is used in some cases.

Possible complications related to the disease and surgical treatment include:

The most common complication of perianal abscess is:

• disease recurrence
• formation of a perianal fistula.

Treatment of perianal abscesses and healing after surgery is a prolonged process requiring very good cooperation between the surgeon and the patient and frequent follow-ups. Maintaining cleanliness of the anal area is an important part of treatment.

Consult our specialists who treat perianal abscesses about treatment options for your condition. We invite you to proctology consultations at the WILMED Clinic in Warsaw.