Common Anorectal Disorders for the Intensive Care Physician

Bach, Harold H. IV MD, MS
Wang, Norby MD
Eberhardt, Joshua M. MD, FACS, FASCRS

¹Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, IL, USA
²Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, IL, USA

Received June 25, 2012; revised October 15, 2012; accepted November 30, 2012.

Corresponding Author:

Joshua M. Eberhardt, Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Loyola University Medical Center, 2160 S 1st Avenue, Maywood, IL 60153, USA.

Email: [email protected]

Journal of Intensive Care Medicine 29(6):p 334-341, November-December 2014. | DOI: 10.1177/0885066613485347

Abstract

Although anorectal disorders such as abscess, fissure, and hemorrhoids are typically outpatient problems, they also occur in the critically ill patient population, where their presentation and management are more difficult. This article will provide a brief review of anorectal anatomy, explain the proper anorectal examination, and discuss the current understanding and treatment concepts with regard to the most common anorectal disorders that the intensive care unit clinician is likely to face.