Experience in anorectal surgery in respect of HIV- infected patients

Individuals who are seropositive for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) often suffer from disorders affecting the anorectum, but unfortunately the best kind of treatment frequently seems questionable. In a retrospective i nvestigation we reviewed 29 HIV-positive patients with anorectal lesions wh o had experienced a proctologic operation. Our impression correlates with o ther findings according to which HIV-positive patients in advanced stages h ave a poorer postoperative outcome in terms of morbidity and survival than patients in an early CDC disease stage. This implies that the indication fo r a proctologic operation in an immunocompromised state has to be considere d carefully.