Anal fistula physical examination
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Anal fistula Microchapters |
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Diagnosis |
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Treatment |
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Anal fistula physical examination On the Web |
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American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Anal fistula physical examination |
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Risk calculators and risk factors for Anal fistula physical examination |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Manpreet Kaur, MD [2]
Overview
Appearance of the Patient
- Patients with anal fistula usually appear in distress due to throbbing rectal pain.
Vital Signs
Patient presents with anal fistula is having normal vital signs but if anal fistula gets infected, it will lead to the formation of an abscess. Patient with an abscess presents with abnormal vitals:
- High-grade fever
- Tachycardia with regular pulse
- Tachypnea
- Low blood pressure with normal pulse pressure
=Rectal Exam
- Patient with anal fistula usually have throbbing rectal pain.
Bidigital rectal examination under the local anesthesia is usually done due to severe pain.
- On examination perianal skin is inflamed and excoriated.
- On palpation external opening can be palpated if it is just beneath the skin.
- The external opening is tender, felt like a cord and discharge is seen.
- Internal opening is seen clearly with an anoscope.
- Sigmoidoscopy is used to visualize opening in the rectum.
- Fistula track is explored by fistula probe.
Lymph Node Examnination
Inguinal lymph nodes are usually enlarged.