Surgery and recovery

Surgery for a perianal abscess is usually done under general anaesthetic and you can go home on the same day (day case). 

You can read more about having day surgery at our hospitals.

You need a responsible adult (over 18 years old) to take you home from hospital. They then need to stay with you for at least 24 hours while you recover from a general anaesthetic.

It's important that you rest for the remainder of the day.

If you need to stay in hospital after your surgery, your doctor or nurse will tell you when you can leave hospital. 

Looking after your wound

The wound will be packed with a special absorbent dressing. We'll give you instructions about how to remove this 24 hours after your surgery.

We do not recommend any further wound packing.

The wound may leak fluid, and wearing gauze or a pad in your underwear will help absorb this.

It's important to keep the area clean by showering or bathing 1 or 2 times every day.

Do not use soap or any perfumed products in the water until your wound has healed, as they can irritate the wound site.

Do not be alarmed if you notice some blood in the bath, as this is quite normal and will reduce in time.

You may also have had a seton stitch inserted. This is a treatment sometimes used if a fistula is found. It allows the fistula to continue to slowly drain, to reduce the chance of another abscess forming.

If you have had a seton stitch inserted, we will arrange a follow-up appointment at the hospital. This seton stitch should not be removed by your GP or practice nurse.

Recovery after surgery

Pain

You might have some discomfort after surgery. The pain gets better over the first few days. 

Painkillers

When you leave hospital we might give you painkillers.
 
It is important that you take your prescribed painkillers regularly to keep you as comfortable as possible. However, if you only have a little pain, you might not need to take them. Always follow the instructions on the packet and never take more than the recommended amount (dose).

Antibiotics 

We do not usually prescribe antibiotics after this surgery. However, we may give you a course of antibiotics if the abscess was large. Always complete the prescribed course of any antibiotics. Make sure that you have told the doctor if you are allergic to any antibiotics, and always ask if you're unsure about any of your medicines.

Going to the toilet

After this surgery, you should be able to go to the toilet and poo normally, although you might have some pain and discomfort at first. 

We might give you medicine called laxatives. They keep your poo soft so that you can poo more easily. 

Please keep the area clean and wash the area after having a poo, although the risk of reinfecting the wound in this way is actually very low.

Returning to work and activities

The time that it takes to return to work depends on how you feel and if you have an active job.

• Build up to your usual level of activity gradually.
• Do not go swimming or ride a bike until your wound has healed.
• You can have sex as soon as you feel comfortable.

Follow-up appointment

In most cases you will not need a follow-up appointment. 

If a you do need a follow-up appointment, this is usually about 12 weeks after your surgery. We will contact you to arrange an appointment.