Anorectal sepsis and fistula-in-ano.

Anorectal abscesses and fistulas are common maladies that are usually readily diagnosed and effectively treated. However, complex fistulous disease challenges even the most expert of surgical specialists. The management options in this subset of patients are suboptimal, with treatment often requiring multiple procedures, putting the patient at risk for continued symptoms and fecal incontinence. In this chapter, the clinical aspects of perianal suppurative disease are discussed and an attempt is made to deal with many of the more challenging aspects of patient management.