Warm sitz bath does not reduce symptoms in posthaemorrhoidectomy period: a randomized, controlled study

Warm water sitz bath is routinely recommended after anal surgery. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of sitz bath with regards to pain scores, analgesic requirements and patient satisfaction ratings after haemorrhoidectomy.

Fifty patients were randomly assigned to receive antibiotics and analgesics alone (control patients) or a twice-daily sitz bath along with identical antibiotics and analgesics (sitz bath group). Weekly pain score and patient satisfaction score were evaluated on visual analogue scores. The number of analgesic tablets consumed in each week was also assessed.

There was no significant difference in age, gender distribution and the number of excised haemorrhoid piles between the two groups. No significant difference in postoperative mean pain score between groups (P = 0.234) was noticed. Likewise, no relevant differences in analgesic requirements between sitz bath and no sitz bath group (P = 0.435) were seen. The satisfaction score was higher in the sitz bath group when compared with the control group; however, it did not reach a statistically significant level.

This study shows that sitz bath does not offer pain relief, wound healing or reduction in consumption of analgesics and thus there is no evidence to prescribe sitz bath in the post-haemorrhoidectomy period.