Hemorrhoidectomy with lasers and other contemporary modalities

Surgical treatment of haemorrhoidal disease with CO2 laser and Milligan-Morgan cold scalpel technique

OBJECTIVE

To prospectively compare immediate postoperative results of the surgical treatment of haemorrhoidal disease (HD) by Milligan-Morgan technique using either the CO(2) laser or cold scalpel.

METHODS

Forty patients with grade III/IV HD were prospectively randomized to undergo surgical treatment (Milligan-Morgan) using either the CO(2) laser (group A) or the cold scalpel method (group B). Data were compared regarding postoperative pain, complications, healing time, return to normal activity and patient satisfaction. Patients were blinded to treatment method until the completion of the study. Postoperative outcomes were assessed by patient questionnaire and outpatient follow-up visits. Pain was assessed by Visual Analogue Scale and analgesic consumption.

RESULTS

Twenty patients were randomized into each group and were comparable relative to mean age, gender and grade of HD. There were no statistically significant differences regarding postoperative pain measured (P =0.17) or consumption of oral (P = 0.741) and parenteral analgesics (P = 0.18) between the two groups. Mean pain score at the first bowel movement was significantly higher in group A (P = 0.035), although the use of analgesics was similar in both the groups. There were no differences regarding complications, mean healing time, return to normal activities and patient satisfaction.

CONCLUSION

There were no differences in the immediate results after Milligan-Morgan haemorrhoidectomy using either the CO(2) laser or cold scalpel regarding postoperative pain, complications, healing time, return to normal activities or patient satisfaction.

Hemorroidectomia: estudo de 2.417 pacientes submetidos à cirurgia para tratamento da doença hemorroidária

Em 34.000 pacientes coloproctológicos foi feito o diagnóstico de DH, como doença coloproctológica principal, em 9.289 pacientes (27,3%), dos quais 2.417 (26,0%) foram submetidos à hemorroidectomia. O objetivo deste trabalho é estudar estes 2.417 pacientes submetidos à hemorroidectomia, com análise dos aspectos epidemiológicos (idades, sexos), dos aspectos envolvendo a cirurgia (posições do pacientes, anestesias usadas e técnicas cirúrgicas praticadas e complicações cirúrgicas), comparando os achados com os da literatura correlata. Dos 2.417 pacientes operados a maioria apresentava hemorróidas de terceiro (30,5%) e de quarto (60,2%). Predominou, de forma estatisticamente significativa, a incidência de DH entre mulheres (5.007 mulheres, 53,9%) sobre homens (4.282 homens, 46,1%), bem como de cirurgias (1.330 mulheres ou 26,6% de 9.289 portadores de DH ou 55,0% dos 2.417 operados). A média etária dos pacientes por ocasião do diagnóstico foi 39,9 anos, sendo 74,8% entre 21 e 50 anos de idade; e a média etária por ocasião da cirurgia foi 41,6 anos, sendo 71,8% entre 21 e 50 anos de idade. Foram encontradas, por ocasião do diagnóstico da DH 1.122 casos (12,1%) de doenças anais concomitantes, sobretudo fissuras anais (5,8%) e hipertrofia de papilas anais (3,4%). A incidência de DAC operadas foi de 30,1% (729 pacientes), sendo a fissurectomia (13,1%) e a papilectomia (11,0%) as duas DAC mais comumente operadas em concomitância à DH. Dos 2.417 pacientes operados de DH 45 pacientes (1,9%) foram operados de outras doenças que não no ânus, sobretudo plástica de períneo e varizes de membros inferiores, tendo, ainda, 26 pacientes (2,0%) sido operados em situações patológicas e fisiológicas especiais, sobretudo gravidez (8 casos, 0,3%). A anestesia mais usada foi a peridural (42,3%) e a local associada à analgesia (34,9%); as posições na mesa cirúrgica mais usadas foram o decúbito lateral esquerdo de Sims (58,4%) e "em canivete" (40,1%); e a técnica cirúrgica mais usada foi a técnica aberta (Milligan-Morgan) (2.014 casos, 83,3%). Foram observadas 76 complicações (3,1%), sobretudo estenoses anais (40 casos, 1,8%) e hemorragia anal (21 casos, 0,9%).

Radio-ablation of advanced grades of hemorrhoids with radiofrequency

BACKGROUND

For advanced degree of hemorrhoids with prolapse of the rectal mucosa, the choice is hemorrhoidectomy, which could be open, close, diathermy, Laser, or stapled one. As an effective alternative to this, in situ radio-frequency ablation of the pile mass has been found to be quite efficacious with many added advantages over the conventional hemorrhoidectomy procedures in practice.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study included 50 patients (34 males and 16 females) treated at Gupta Nursing Home, Laxminagar, Nagpur, India, with the above technique from April 2000 to March 2001 and each case followed up over a period of 12 months.

RESULTS

In first 4 weeks of the procedure, 14% of patients complained of bleeding, whereas all of the patients had some amount of pain. Eleven (22%) patients had serosanguinous discharge, but in none of them was there any incontinence or prolapse. All of the patients resumed their routine within 1 week of the procedure. A subsequent follow-up of the patients at an interval of 12 weeks and 12 months showed significant relief in all of the above early postoperative symptoms. During follow-up at the end of 1 year, 7 patients were found to have skin tag formation. However, complications like anal stenosis or stricture or incontinence was not found in any of the patients.

CONCLUSION

For advanced degree of piles with prolapse as the main symptom, in situ radio-frequency ablation can be a better choice to various types of hemorrhoidectomy in the sense that the hospital stay is minimized, recurrence is rare, and return to work is faster. The results are more assuring when compared with conventional hemorrhoidectomy. The technique fits into the parameters for being called the gold standard procedure. Except the radio-frequency unit, the procedure needs no specialized instrument. It can be performed in any routine surgical setup.

Harmonic Scalpel vs. electrocautery hemorrhoidectomy: a prospective evaluation

INTRODUCTION

Management of posthemorrhoidectomy pain remains a very unsatisfactory clinical dilemma. Compared with electrocautery and laser, the Harmonic Scalpel causes minimal lateral thermal injury during tissue dissection.

PURPOSE

The aim of the study was to establish whether decreased lateral thermal injury translated into diminished posthemorrhoidectomy pain.

METHODS

A prospective randomized trial comparing Harmonic Scalpel hemorrhoidectomy and electrocautery was undertaken. Fifty consecutive patients were randomized into two groups: Harmonic Scalpels and electrocautery hemorrhoidectomy. The indications included Grade III internal hemorrhoids with external components or Grade IV disease. Patients with additional anorectal pathology (fissure or fistula) were excluded, as were patients with neurologic deficits, chronic pain syndrome, and those already taking narcotic analgesics. Pain was assessed using a visual analog scale preoperatively and on postoperative Days 1, 2, 7, 14, and 28. Twenty-four-hour narcotic usage (Hydrocodone, 10 mg) was recorded on postoperative Days 1, 2, 7, 14, and 28. A three-quadrant modified Ferguson hemorrhoidectomy was performed with each patient in the prone jackknife position.

RESULTS

Pain in the Harmonic Scalpel hemorrhoidectomy group was significantly less than in electrocautery patients on each postoperative day studied. Analgesic requirements were also significantly less in the Harmonic Scalpel group on Days 1, 2, 7, and 14. There was no correlation between postoperative pain and grade of hemorrhoid, status of the surgical incision (open vs. closed), or any other study variable. Fifty-five percent of Harmonic Scalpel patients returned to work within one week of surgery, compared with 23 percent of electrocautery patients.

CONCLUSION

The study demonstrates significantly reduced postoperative pain after Harmonic Scalpel hemorrhoidectomy compared with electrocautery controls. The diminished postoperative pain in the Harmonic Scalpel group likely results from the avoidance of lateral thermal injury.

Effects of various laser wavelengths and energy levels on pig rectal submucosal tissue

This phase I animal study attempts to develop a nonexcisional method of treating hemorrhoidal varicosities submucosally using interstitial laser beam. Three laser wavelengths at four energy levels were applied interstitially to pig rectal submucosa to evaluate the effects on the vasculature, mucosa, and the muscle. As expected YAG laser caused a "cooking" of the tissue with necrosis and abscess formation. KTP laser was intermediate in its effect, causing less mucosal injury and muscle necrosis. Pulse dye laser had more specific effects on the vessels with little damage to the mucosa or muscle layers. Further studies using pulse laser are warranted as a possible nonexcisional interstitial treatment for hemorrhoids.

Lasers in anorectal surgery

Laser technology has been applied widely in the treatment of hemorrhoids, condylomas, and anorectal neoplasms. It is claimed by its proponents to result in less pain, improved healing, and more rapid recovery as compared with conventional surgery. Laser therapy, however, is expensive and potentially dangerous, and advantages generally have not been substantiated by controlled clinical trials. The possible benefits and potential risks of laser treatment of anorectal disorders are examined.