title: The prevention and treatment of the persistent perineal sinus.
abstract: There is a high reported incidence of persistent perineal sinus after proctectomy for inflammatory bowel disease. The cause and prevention are discussed. In a consecutive series, persistent perineal sinuses occurred in 4 of 17 patients with Crohn's colitis, and in none of 20 patients with ulcerative or unclassified colitis (1 died soon after operation). The technique is described for patients with a sinus persisting for more than 6 months, using total excision, primary closure, and suction drainage. Six of 7 patients so treated healed primarily and the seventh healed within 2 weeks. In males, sexual dysfunction was often decreased.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000601:surgery*; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005402:Fistula / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010502:Perineum / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000601:surgery*; D012007:Rectum / Q000601:surgery; D014945:Wound Healing