Concepts in Surgery of the Anus, Rectum, and Pilonidal Region

Abstract

Anorectal surgery is one of the most delicate areas to distinguish quality in a surgeon. There is a great opportunity for success, but also a multitude of traps and pitfalls that result in poor outcomes, pain, and functional impairment. Deferring presentation of the specific diseases as such to respective textbooks, this chapter provides from a surgical perspective the fundamental aspects of anatomy, function, and diseases combined with an overview over the intellectual, technical, and decision-making challenges to allow for a structured development of anorectal surgical strategies. Specific pathologic entities (such as hemorrhoids, abscess/fistula, prolapse, incontinence, and others) are discussed in detail.