Comparison of electrotherapy of hemorrhoids and Ferguson hemorrhoidectomy in a randomized prospective study

Ferguson hemorrhoidectomy has been shown to be associated with significant amount of post-operative (post op) pain and complications. However, electrotherapy in which hemorrhoidal tissue is not excised might not be associated with severe complications.

Our aim was to compare the results of Ferguson hemorrhoidectomy with electrotherapy methods using 16 and 30 mA (milliampers) direct current (DC).

Four hundred and eight patients with symptomatic hemorrhoids, grades 1, 2 and 3, were randomly assigned into 3 groups. Group A (136 patients) underwent Ferguson hemorrhoidectomy, group B1 (136 patients) and group B2 (136 patients) were subjected to electrotherapy using 16 and 30 mA, respectively. The groups were compared in terms of duration of procedures, duration of hospital stay, post op pain severity and post op complications including recurrence, infection and non-healing ulcers.

All patients in group A had severe pain for 7-14 days of post op. However, in group B1, 88(65%) patients had mild pain during the treatment and 1st post op day; 28(21%) of them could not tolerate the operation; 20(15%) of them had mild pain and 10(7.5%) of them had moderate pain up to day 7. In group B2, 47(35%) of patients had sever pain for 6 h and 20(15%) of them experienced mild pain for 2-7 days post op. The one day hospital stay in group A and group B2 were 82 and 97%, respectively, while patients in group B1 were treated as out patients. Mean procedure time for one hemorrhoidectomy in group A was 23 min, in electrotherapy using 16 and 30 mA was 9.7 and 6.1 min, respectively. The overall success rate with the first application in group B1 was 57% and in group B2 was 93%.

Electrotherapy method using 30 mA DC could significantly decrease post op pain, operation time and hospital stay. This method had good success rate and very low post op complications compared to Ferguson hemorrhoidectomy and using 16 mA method. Therefore, due to its effectiveness, less pain, rapidity and safeness, we recommend it.