title: Excision and primary closure of pilonidal sinus using a drain for antiseptic wound flushing.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In the case of pilonidus sinus treated with primary intention surgery the uneventful healing is still difficult to obtain, as indirectly proven by the number of different procedures that have been suggested, such as cyst excision with or without primary closure, excision followed by marsupialisation, and excision followed by skin flap transposition. The procedure described here involves excision and primary closure, with a drain being used to flush the operative cavity with an antiseptic solution.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred and forty-three patients (173 men and 70 women) were treated by excising the pilonidal sinus and placing a 12F suction drain at the base of the wound, with its tip being brought out in the left gluteal region at least 5 cm laterally to the lower end of the suture. Suction was stopped on the first postoperative day and the drain was cut just above the skin. On day 2, a 5F catheter was inserted through the drain and the cavity was flushed with an antiseptic solution followed by sterile saline solution; the same treatment was repeated on days 4 and 6. The drain was removed on day 8 or 9, some of the stitches on day 8 or 9 and the rest on day 9 or 10. The surgery was performed on a day hospital basis in 207 cases; the remaining 36 were hospitalized overnight and discharged on the following day.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Healing was always by first intention, with none of the 243 patients experiencing any complications. The postoperative follow-up now ranges from 5 to 15 years, and there have not been any recurrences.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The drainage of blood from the bottom of the wound and the use of antiseptic/saline flushing are essential for primary intention healing and the avoidance of recurrences.
authors.affiliation: Institute of General and Oncological Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Milan, Via San Calimero 7, 20122 Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Raffaele
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tritapepe
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Di Padova
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004322:Drainage / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010864:Pilonidal Sinus / Q000601:surgery*; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D012965:Sodium Chloride