Abdominal Compartment Syndrome Abdominal compartment syndrome is increased intra-abdominal pressure (intra-abdominal hypertension) due to interstitial oedema (third spacing) leading to vascular compromise, ischemia and organ dysfunction. Abdominal compartment syndrome should be suspected in any patient who develops oliguria/anuria, tachypnoea and…
Overview Lethal Triad Hypothermia, coagulopathy and acidosis are known as the “lethal triad” in trauma because each condition worsens the other if left untreated, resulting in irreversible progression towards death. It was first described in 1982 by Kashuk et al.…
Pancreatic Tumours Pancreatic tumours originate from either the exocrine pancreas or the endocrine pancreas (pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours – PNET). 95% of pancreatic tumours are exocrine tumours, most commonly adenocarcinoma. Pancreatic cancer is the tenth most common cancer and the fourth…
Genital warts This is an STD caused by HPV. Transmitted via anal intercause. HPV-6 and HPV-11 cause warts. Also exposed to HPV-16 and HPV-18 and are likely to develop cancer.
Fistula in Ano A Fistula-in-ano is a communication between the anal canal and perianal skin. They are a notorious complication of perianal abscess and Crohn’s disease. It can occur at the site of a drain placement or at the incision…
Anorectal abscess An anorectal abscess is a pus-filled cavity that most commonly develops from an infected anal crypt gland (cryptoglandular infection) following obstruction and bacterial overgrowth**.** The infection begins in the intersphincteris space and may spread upward, downward, and laterally…
Pilonidal Disease Pilonidal means “nest of hair”. Pilonidal disease refers to an abscess, cyst or sinus in the intergluteal cleft, often containing hair or other debris. They commonly occur along the posterior supreior gluteal cleft. Caused by hair becoming entrapped…
Rectal Prolapse (Procidentia) A rectal prolapse is an umbrella term that refers to the abnormal full-thickness protrusion of the rectum through the anus. It can be easy to confuse rectal prolapse with prolapsed haemorrhoids. One way to differentiate a rectal…
Anal fissure An anal fissure is a superficial tearing of the skin over the anal sphincter (anoderm). It is related to prolonged bouts of straining or child-birth (post-partum). Diagnosis is clinical, as fissures can be seen on examination by carefully…
Hemorrhoids Haemorrhoids are dilated submucosal veins within the internal or external anal canal that are usually inflamed or thrombosed. They usually occur at the 3 o’clock, 7 o’clock and 11 o’clock positions. A digital rectal examination is diagnostic for haemorrhoids.…