TY - JOUR
T1 - What every gastroenterologist needs to know about common anorectal disorders
AU - Schubert, Moonkyung Cho
AU - Sridhar, Subbaramiah
AU - Schade, Robert R.
AU - Wexner, Steven D.
PY - 2009/7/14
Y1 - 2009/7/14
N2 - Anorectal complaints are very common and are caused by a variety of mostly benign anorectal disorders. Many anorectal conditions may be successfully treated by primary care physicians in the outpatient setting, but patients tend not to seek medical attention due to embarrassment or fear of cancer. As a result, patients frequently present with advanced disease after experiencing significant decreases in quality of life. A number of patients with anorectal complaints are referred to gastroenterologists. However, gastroenterologists' knowledge and experience in approaching these conditions may not be sufficient. This article can serve as a guide to gastroenterologists to recognize, evaluate, and manage medically or non-surgically common benign anorectal disorders, and to identify when surgical referrals are most prudent. A review of the current literature is performed to evaluate comprehensive clinical pearls and management guidelines for each topic. Topics reviewed include hemorrhoids, anal fissures, anorectal fistulas and abscesses, and pruritus ani.
AB - Anorectal complaints are very common and are caused by a variety of mostly benign anorectal disorders. Many anorectal conditions may be successfully treated by primary care physicians in the outpatient setting, but patients tend not to seek medical attention due to embarrassment or fear of cancer. As a result, patients frequently present with advanced disease after experiencing significant decreases in quality of life. A number of patients with anorectal complaints are referred to gastroenterologists. However, gastroenterologists' knowledge and experience in approaching these conditions may not be sufficient. This article can serve as a guide to gastroenterologists to recognize, evaluate, and manage medically or non-surgically common benign anorectal disorders, and to identify when surgical referrals are most prudent. A review of the current literature is performed to evaluate comprehensive clinical pearls and management guidelines for each topic. Topics reviewed include hemorrhoids, anal fissures, anorectal fistulas and abscesses, and pruritus ani.
KW - Anal fissures
KW - Anorectal disease
KW - Anorectal fistulas and abscesses
KW - Hemorrhoids
KW - Pruritus ani
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U2 - 10.3748/wjg.15.3201
DO - 10.3748/wjg.15.3201
M3 - Editorial
C2 - 19598294
AN - SCOPUS:67651165293
SN - 1007-9327
VL - 15
SP - 3201
EP - 3209
JO - World Journal of Gastroenterology
JF - World Journal of Gastroenterology
IS - 26
ER -