Preparation (Before)

Physical fitness

It is important to prepare for surgery as if it were a sporting event. Before surgery, you should try to build up your best possible physical condition:

• Continue or increase your physical activities (running, swimming, cycling, tennis…).
• If you cannot practice any sport, you are encouraged to go for walks as regularly as possible.
• If necessary, sessions of respiratory physiotherapy may be prescribed.

• Do not apply make-up before the operation.
• Do not put nail polish on your nails.
• Do not bring valuables and jewelry to the hospital.

• If you wear eye lenses
• If you have prostheses: hip, knee, teeth
• If you have a pacemaker
• … other

An incision and drainage of an abscess is done as an emergency or semi-urgent procedure .

Patients do not have time to build up their physical condition before surgery.

Correction of their nutritional status will take place after surgery if necessary.

Besides the examinations carried out for the diagnosis of the disease, there are also examinations required for the anesthesia department.

• Preoperative investigations such as an electrocardiogram (ECG), chest X-ray and blood tests are requested depending on the patient’s general condition and history.
• Patients under 65 years of age in good general condition, will only require a blood test in most cases.
• Appointments with the anesthesia, pulmonology or cardiology departments will be requested depending on the patient’s history and general condition.

Pulmonology department (lung diseases)

+32 2 614 27 10

+32 2 614 20 00 

Cardiology department

+32 2 614 25 40 

• If preoperative examinations were carried out, external to the Europe hospitals, do not forget to bring them with you on the day of surgery or at the anesthesia consultation!
  

Le drainage d’un abcès anal est une intervention chirurgicale qui se fait sous anesthésie générale en urgence. 

Une consultation élective n’est généralement pas prévue.

• Lors de la consultation chirurgie un questionnaire d’anesthésie vous sera remis. Il doit être rempli avant la consultation anesthésie, si celle-ci est prévue, ou avant l’hospitalisation.
• Veuillez faire les examens préopératoires (Rx thorax, ECG, prise de sang) ou consultations préopératoires (pneumologie, cardiologie) avant la consultation d’anesthésie.  Si les examens ou consultations (ex: consultation cardiologie) sont réalisées hors des cliniques de l’Europe, n’oubliez pas de les apporter lors de votre consultation avec l’anesthésiste.
• Les patients, en bon état général, admis le jour même de l’intervention verront l’anesthésiste avant l’intervention en salle d’opération.
• Si vous souffrez d’une apnée du sommeil et que vous êtes traité par la thérapie CPAP, n’oubliez pas de le signaler à l’anesthésiste et d’apporter votre appareil pour la durée de l’hospitalisation.
• Les patients hospitalisés la veille de l’intervention verront l’anesthésiste la veille en chambre.
• Les patients qui désirent une consultation peuvent en demander une ou contacter le service d’anesthésie:

+32 2 614 20 30

+32 2 614 40 20

The incision and drainage of an anal abscess is performed under general anesthesia or under locoregional anesthesia (rachianesthesia).

• During the surgical consultation, you will be given an anesthesia questionnaire. This should be completed before the scheduled anesthesia consultation or before admission to the hospital.
• Please perform any preoperative examinations (chest X-ray, ECG, blood tests) or preoperative consultations (pulmonology , cardiology) before the anesthesia consultation.  If the tests or consultations (e.g. cardiology / pulmonology) are performed outside the Europe hospitals, please remember to bring them with you to the anesthesia consultation.
  
• Patients admitted on the day of surgery, who are in good general condition, will be consulted in the operating theatre just before surgery.
• If you suffer from sleep apnea and are treated with CPAP therapy, remember to inform the anesthetist and to bring your device with you for the duration of your stay.
• Patients admitted to hospital the day before surgery will be consulted by the anesthetist in the ward the day before surgery.
• Patients wishing a consultation can request one or contact the anesthesia department:

+32 2 614 20 30

+32 2 614 40 20

No colon preparation is required.

Not required.

During the consultation, home medication will be reviewed.

Particular attention will be paid to anticoagulants and anti-diabetics, some of which should be stopped after medical advice.

• Anticoagulants : Plavix®, Clopidogrel®, Sintrom®, Marcoumar®, Xarelto®, Pradaxa®,Eliquis®…
• Anti-diabetics : Glucophage®, Metformin® …

Chronic intake of steroids and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, delay healing and may increase the risk of fistulae and open wounds.

• Anti-inflammatory drugs – corticosteroids: Brufen®, Nurofen®, Cataflam®, Medrol®…

Check your medication in the section on medication.

There you will find information on whether or not to stop common medicines and the number of days that they should be stopped before surgery.

Link to chapter : Medication

In most cases, patients undergoing surgery for an anal abscess will be transferred directly from the emergency room to the operating theatre.

In case of semi-elective procedure, you will be informed of the date and time of the hospital admission during consultation.

• If you are admitted on the day itself, you should present yourself to admission at 7 am, unless the surgeon or the secretary informed you of a different time.
• If you are admitted the day before surgery, hospitalization is between 4pm and 5.30pm. Unless the surgeon or secretary informed you of a different time.

Length of hospital stay

Most patients are hospitalized in day hospital or for 1 night. Depending on the extent of the soft tissue infection, hospitalisation may be prolonged for several days.

Length of stay : Day hospitalisation or several nights. Depending on the severity of abdominal infection, hospitalisation may be prolonged for several days.

Day hospitalization : Admission on the morning at 7 am and discharge the same day at 6 pm.

1 night stay : Admission on the morning and discharge before 2pm.

• During hospitalization, it is important to have the various certificates completed quickly (insurance, mutual insurance, sports club certificate, disability certificate, etc.). If possible, issue the certificates already in the operating theatre.
• Discharge is planned when the patient can eat independently and mobilize autonomously.
• For patients who are not independent, it is important to contact the social services quickly, even before hospitalization, to organise home care or post-operative rehabilitation.

Social service contact details:

+32 2 614 92 92

Pre-operative sequence of events :

Before you go to the operating theatre, you will be asked the following questions :

• Complete the anesthesia questionnaire
• Contact details (spouse, children…)
• To urinate
• Remove jewelry, contact lenses, dentures, hearing aids….
• Put on the surgical gown

You will be taken in bed to the operation quarter. In the operating theatre, you will see the anesthesist and also your surgeon, therefore you will still have the opportunity to ask questions.

For your safety, you will be asked at several times for your name and the reason (type of procedure) for your presence in the operating theatre.

What should I bring to the hospital?

Comfortable clothes and supplies for your personal hygiene:

•  Pyjamas, nightgown and dressing gown
• Loose-fitting trousers, sweatpants
• T-shirts, light jumpers
• Slippers or flip-flops
• Toiletries
•  Soap, shower gel and shampoo
• Toothbrush and toothpaste
• Deodorant
• …

To pass the time, to have fun:

• Reading (books, magazines), games …..
• Laptop, tablet (Please bring headphones to listen to music, watch films or series without disturbing your neighbor)
• You can bring photos or a personal items to make you feel less lonely and a little more “at home”.