Office haemorrhoidectomy with local anaesthesia: a feasible day-case procedure

We report on 100 patients (88 men and 12 women) who underwent ligation-excision haemorrhoidectomy for prolapsing haemorrhoids in an outpatient office setting under local anaesthesia. Operating time, complications during procedure, postoperative complications and patient satisfaction with the procedure were analysed. The mean operating time was 55 (40-90) minutes. Ninety-seven were discharged three to five hours after surgery. Three patients were directly admitted to the hospital after surgery. One patient was readmitted after discharge. Severe postoperative pain occurred in eight; three suffered urinary retention; 88% were satisfied with the surgery but 12% were not. This study shows that, in selected patients, performing ligation-excision haemorrhoidectomy under local anaesthesia in the outpatient office setting is safe and viable.