Surgical procedures in patients at risk of human immunodeficiency virus infection.

We have studied the outcome of 140 general surgical procedures in 112 patients known or suspected to be infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or hepatitis B virus. Forty patients had antibodies to HIV. A wide range of surgical procedures was performed, with an overall complication rate of 5.7%. Wound infection, wound haematoma and one unexplained pyrexia were the only complications seen. Some anorectal wounds in patients with HIV antibodies were noted to heal extremely slowly, but the aggressive anorectal sepsis reported by others was not seen. The postoperative course after general surgical procedures was unremarkable in patients with HIV antibodies, and in those suspected of HIV infection, but because anorectal wounds were found to heal slowly, we recommend that anorectal surgery be conservative in patients with HIV antibodies.