[Simultaneous treatment of an anal abscess and fistula]

At the First Surgical Clinic of the Faculty Hospital and Policlinic in Kosice during the period between Jan. 1, 1993 and June 30, 1995 99 patients with anal abscesses were operated (70 patients with a first attack and 29 with a relapsing abscess). Surgical treatment involved incision, evacuation, drainage and possibly treatment of an anal fistula. During operation an internal orifice and course of the fistula was detected in 28 patients, i.e. in 28.2%. The anal fistula was treated by decision in 14 patients or by an elastic ligature (multiple seton) in 14 patients. During the postoperative period of 3-32 months in patients subjected to one-stage treatment of the abscess and fistula no relapse was recorded nor incontinence due to hard or loose faeces. The presented form of treatment performed by an experienced surgeon with adequate knowledge of the anatomy and surgery of the anus is in the authors opinion an asset to the prevention of relapses of anal infections.