A study assessing postoperative Corrugate Rubber drain of perianal abscess

•Management of perianal abscess involves cruciate incision over the abscess and drainage by using Corrugate Rubber drain as another method of drainage and an alternative to other methods like packing by assessing healing of perianal abscess, recurrence and fistula development.•This study was an observational retrospective review of 137 ‘case series’ of patients with perianal abscess over a fifteen-year period from January 2000 to December 2015. 67 patients in group A were managed by Corrugated Rubber drain and 70 patients in group B were managed by packing.•In group A, males were 92.53% more than females (7.46%) while group B, males were 85.71% and the rest were females. Outcome measures were assessed; time to cavity healing, pain scoring, abscess recurrence, fistula formation, analgesic requirement and skin disfigurement.•The mean time of abscess healing in group A and B were 8.50 ± 0.49 and 8.90 ± 0.23 days respectively. Their pain score using Corrugate Rubber drain postoperative were 2/10 in group A while group B was 8/10.•Most of patients in group A needed mild analgesia (52/67) (77.61%). The rate of abscess recurrence and fistula development were (22/67) (32.83%) and (21/67) (31.34%) respectively in group A which is significantly lower than group B.•Management of perianal abscess using Corrugate Rubber drain is better than other methods used regarding the outcome measures like pain relief is usually immediate. Bleeding and drainage usually subside within a few days.•The wounds heal over a matter of a few weeks and low recurrence rate and fistula formation. This resulted in low morbidity and cost.

BackgroundPerianal abscess which can lead to a devastating complications. The management of perianal abscess involves incision and drainage by different methods one of them is packing the cavity.Aim of the studyThe aim is using Corrugate Rubber drain as an alternative to other methods.Patients and methodsThis study was an observational retrospective review of 137 'case series' of patients with perianal abscess over a fifteen-year period from January 2000 to December 2015. 67 patients in group A were managed by Corrugated Rubber drain and 70 patients in group B were managed by packing. In group A, males were 92.53% more than females (7.46%) while group B, males were 85.71% and the rest were females. Outcome measures were assessed; time to cavity healing, pain scoring, abscess recurrence, fistula formation, analgesic requirement and skin disfigurement.ResultsThe mean time of abscess healing in group A and B were 8.50 ± 0.49 and 8.90 ± 0.23 days respectively. Their pain score using Corrugate Rubber drain postoperative were 2/10 in group A while group B was 8/10. Most of patients in group A needed mild analgesia (52/67) (77.61%). The rate of abscess recurrence and fistula development were (22/67) (32.83%) and (21/67) (31.34%) respectively in group A which is significantly lower than group B.ConclusionsManagement of perianal abscess using Corrugate Rubber drain in compares with packing leads to immediate pain relief, low recurrence rate of abscess and fistula formation, without need to expert nursing and less ugly scar formation. This resulted in low morbidity and cost.