Abstract:

From December 2015 to December 2017, among the 320 patients with perianal abscess treated in the department of general surgery of Aviation General Hospital, 5 patients’ incisions failed to heal within 30 days after surgery. They were finally diagnosed as tuberculous perianal abscess among whom 3 cases got pulmonary tuberculosis too. After 2R-H-E-Z/4R-H-E anti-tuberculosis treatment, all incisions were healed, with an average healing time (25.5±3.6) d, and no recurrence. Main reasons for the delayed diagnosis were: tuberculous perianal abscess was relatively rare clinically; lack of specificity in clinical manifestations; lack of understanding of the disease among medical staff; no detailed analysis of patients’ medical history; no examination of acid-fast bacilli in pus secretion and histopathological examination of perianal lesions. For patients with perianal abscess, we should inquire about the patient’s medical history carefully, and undertake routine examination of acid-fast bacilli in pus secretion and histopathological biopsies. Standard anti-tuberculosis treatment should be given for 0.5 to 1 year after diagnosis of tuberculous perianal abscess.

Key words: Abscess, Tuberculosis, Anus diseases, Delayed diagnosis, Outcome and process assessment (health care)