Perianal Disease Flashcards
List 5 symptoms of perianal disease
Pain Bleeding Prolapsed anal lumps and swelling Itchiness Discharge
What components make up the examination for perianal disease?
Inspection Palpation of perineum DRE Sigmoidoscopy Proctoscopy
Indications for flexible sigmoidoscopy
??
Indications for rigid sigmoidoscopy
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What kind of cancers can occur in the anus?
SCC
BCC
Melanoma
What kind of cancers can occur in the rectum?
Adenocarcinoma
What kind of cancers can occur at the anorectal junction?
SCC
BCC
Melanoma
Adenocarcinoma
List 7 common non-malignant perianal conditions
Anal fissure Haemorrhoids Anal skin tags Anal fibrous polyps Anal fistula Anal warts Rectal prolapse
What perianal conditions are usually painless?
Perianal skin tags Haemorrhoids (1st, 2nd and 3rd degree) Rectal prolapse Anal fistula Cancer (anal margin, low rectal) Anal fibrous polyps Anal warts Pruritis ani
When can anal/rectal cancers cause pain?
When they invade nerves, bones and/or sphincters
When do haemorrhoids usually cause pain?
When strangulated or prolapsed
What is proctalgia fugax?
Sudden, severe episodes of pain
Sporadic and resolves
Not related to defecation
What other perianal conditions cause pain?
Anal fissure
Perianal haematoma
Anal abscess
30 year old woman, 3 months post-partum, presents with anal pain on defecation for several weeks
Associated symptoms include bright red bleeding per rectum
DDx?
Anal fissure
Strangulated or prolapsed haemorrhoid
Perianal haematoma
Exclude abscess, fistula, cancer
What are the 3 principles of treatment of anal fissure?
Simple measures
Chemical sphincterotomy
Surgical sphincterotomy
What causes proctalgia fugax?
Spasm of the levator ani (typically the pubococcygeus muscle)
What simple measures are used to treat anal fissure?
Topical anaesthetic ointment
Stool softeners, coloxyl and senna
Sitz bath
What agents can be used to achieve a chemical sphincterotomy?
Rectogesic ointment (0.2% GTN; can give headache) Nifedipine 0.5%/lignocaine 5% gel Botulinum toxin injection (40-60U into intersphincteric space)
What are the aims of a chemical sphincterotomy?
To relax pressure on sphincter and reduce spasm