title: Decision making in surgery: acute anorectal sepsis.
abstract: Acute perineal inflammation is a common surgical emergency, presenting in most cases with an abscess arising from infection within the many tissue planes in this area. Simple drainage of such an abscess leads to immediate symptomatic relief but this should be accompanied by diagnostic manoeuvres that allow any underlying fistulae to be found and eradicated.
authors.affiliation: Whipps Cross Hospital, London.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Thomas
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D001004:Anus Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D012002:Rectal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D012003:Rectal Fistula / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery