Aetiopathological Study on Perianal Fistula

Background: Fistula-in-ano, a common surgical pathology, causes significant patient discomfort and disability, often receiving only temporary relief and casual attention in general medical practice. Fistula-in-ano is an abnormal communication between the anal canal or rectum and the perianal skin which is the chronic manifestation of the acute perianal process that forms an anal abscess. This study investigates the etiology of the perianal fistula. Method: The cross-sectional observational study was carried out in the Department of Rangpur Medical College Hospital, Rangpur, from July 2015 to December 2015. A total of 100 patients were selected as study subjects by simple random sampling technique. All data were collected using a pre-formed questionnaire. Collected data was classified, edited, coded, and entered into the computer for statistical analysis by using SPSS version 20. Collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: Perianal fistulas predominantly affected males (86%), with a male-to-female ratio of 6.14:1. The most affected age group was 20-50 years, with no exemptions except for those below 10 years and over 80 years. A significant portion (76%) had a history of prolonged sitting at work. Most of the organisms were enteric in origin and constituted about 69.64%. Conclusion: This study reveals that perianal fistulas primarily affect individuals aged 20-50, with a higher incidence in males, in low socioeconomic group, and a significant portion is associated with prolonged sitting at work. Organisms isolated from a discharge of fistulas are mostly enteric origin and E. coli (50%) is the highest incidence.