Stapled hemorrhoidopexy - Initial experience from a general surgery center

Stapled hemorrhoidopexy is gaining popularity as a relatively painless alternative to conventional excisional hemorrhoidectomy. The initial experience from a service hospital is presented along with review of literature.

40 cases were managed by stapled hemorrhoidopexy (SH) over a period of two and half years. The primary outcome measures assessed were the analgesic requirement in the post-operative period and the time taken to resume Activities of Daily Living (ADL). Additional outcome measures studied were; presence of bleeding per rectum, prolapse of mass per rectum, incontinence to flatus/stool, post-operative urinary retention, requirement of a repeat procedure, presence of post-operative anal stenosis, and residual external haemorrhoids at 1 week, 1, 3 and 6 months and 1 year after surgery.

40 patients with grade II, III and IV hemorrhoids underwent SH under spinal anesthesia. In the first 24 h 17 patients required a single dose of Injection Diclofenac Sodium while 19 patients required two doses and 4 patients had to be given three doses. 14 patients (35%) achieved Katz Index of Independence in Activities of Daily Living score of 6 on the first post-operative day and another 17 (42.5%) on the second post-operative day. By the fourth post-operative day all patients had achieved a score of 6. One patient had a rectal perforation as a complication of the procedure and another required a second procedure for excision of thrombosed external hemorrhoids.

Stapled hemorrhoidopexy is associated with less post-operative pain and early resumption of ADL. Although the procedure appears simple to perform, it can be associated with serious complications and still cannot be considered the standard of care for the operative treatment of internal hemorrhoids.