title: Perianal sinuses in neonates and infants.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study is to evaluate the etiology of perianal abscess or discharges in neonates and infants and some of them are perianal sinuses with blind inner end without connection to the anal canal, and some of these cases have a different histological pattern. Complete surgical excision and primary closure of their wounds can cure these patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between January 1988 and December 2000, (81) neonates and infants (aged 2 weeks to 2 years) with perianal sinuses, fistula-in-ano abscess dealt in the Al-Zahrawi and Al-Khansa Teaching Hospitals, Mosul, Iraq, were studied. Fifty-one patients displayed an onset of symptoms during their first year of age, all cases had a gentle probing and proctoscopy under general anesthesia, and the discharge from abscess from the patients were sent for culture. Thirty patients with proper sinuses had excision of the sinus and primary closure; children with fistulae underwent fistulectomy; perianal abscesses drained. All the excised specimens were examined histopathologically.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All children, except 3, were boys. Out of the 81 cases studied, 30 patients (37%) proved to have proper sinuses with blind inner end. Eight of these showed a different histological pattern, and in 2 cases, the histopathology was that of rectal duplication, the microbiology of the discharge from the proper sinuses was showing a predominance of non-gut derived organisms. All patients cured by excision of the sinuses and primary closure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fistulae are the most common perianal discharging lesions in neonates and infants, blind sinuses are another cause in a considerable number. We propose a diagnostic strategy and treatment for those children presenting with discharging perianal lesions; for anticipation of these sinuses 3 points need to be considered before attempting surgery. 1) Blind sinus tract on gentle probing. 2) Normal anal and rectal mucosa on proctoscopy. 3) High bacterial yield of non-gut derived organisms on culture of the pus or discharge. Their treatment is by simple excision (coring) and primary closure; this method will shorten the healing and recovery time.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, Mosul, Iraq. wattar.m@uruklink.net
authors.forename: Kais M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Al-Wattar
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007493:Iraq; D008297:Male; D012003:Rectal Fistula / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies