Anorectal pain with fever is a surgery shelf trap you can’t afford to miss. If the skin looks normal but the digital rectal exam is exquisitely tender, think deep abscess—then move fast.

In this episode of Surgery Shelf Prep, Chris and Mars break down perianal versus perirectal abscesses, the cryptoglandular origin at the dentate line, when imaging is actually needed, and the non-negotiable management rule: pus must be drained. We also cover who needs antibiotics, how fistula-in-ano shows up after drainage, and the key distractors that love to steal points on exams.