Day-care surgery for pilonidal sinus

The surgical approach to symptomatic pilonidal sinus is open to debate. Many techniques have been described and no single technique fulfils all the requirements of an ideal treatment. Ambulatory treatment with minimal morbidity and rapid return to activity is desirable. The aim of this work was to study the feasibility of day-care surgery for excision and primary asymmetric closure of symptomatic pilonidal sinus.

All patients referred electively over 2 years were assessed in a single-consultant, colorectal clinic and booked for day-care surgery. All patients had excision and primary asymmetric closure under general anaesthesia in the left lateral position. Whenever possible, they were discharged on the same day according to the day-surgery protocol. Patients were subsequently seen in the out-patient clinic for removal of stitches and were followed up further if there was any wound breakdown.

Fifty-one patients were operated on electively for pilonidal sinus over the 2 years. Two patients were excluded as the final diagnosis was not pilonidal sinus. At 4 weeks following operation, 43 (88%) had complete healing and 6 (12%) had dehiscence of the wound. Recurrence rate was 8% (4 patients) for follow-up of 12-38 months. There was no admission from the day-surgery unit and no unplanned re-admissions. The cost for day-care pilonidal sinus surgery was estimated to be 672.00 pounds per patient compared with in-patient cost of 2405.00 pounds.

Excision and primary asymmetric closure for pilonidal sinus is safe and feasible as day-care surgery and is associated with potential cost saving.