Non-operative Versus Operative Management of Perianal Abscess in Infants: A 10-year Retrospective Study at Two Centres in the United Kingdom

Perianal abscess (PA), with or without fistula-in-ano (FIA) is common in infants. Treatment options include incision and drainage under general anaesthesia or non-operative treatments, such as antibiotics and/or aspiration under local anaesthetic, which avoid the risks of surgery. Current management is based on surgeon preference due to a poor underlying evidence base. In this study we aimed to compare outcomes for non-operative and operative management of infant PA.