Wound healing after anorectal surgery in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients
E. C. Burke, S. L. Orloff, C. E. Freise, J. R. Macho and W. P. Schecter
Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco.
Medical records of 52 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients
who underwent a total of 80 anorectal operations from January 1985 to
January 1990 were retrospectively reviewed to determined whether anorectal
surgical wounds healed in HIV-infected patients and the mean survival time
of these patients after surgery. Twenty-four operations were performed in
asymptomatic HIV-infected patients, 19 in HIV-infected patients with
persistent lymphadenopathy, and 37 in patients with acquired
immunodeficiency syndrome. Wounds healed in 49 patients (94%). The
mortality rate 30 days after surgery was 2%. There were no major
complications. The mean survival time of HIV-infected patients after
surgery was 15 months. We conclude that anorectal surgical wounds heal in
most HIV-infected patients and that the survival time after surgery of
HIV-infected patients with anorectal disease justifies appropriate surgical
treatment.
