Short term results of stapled versus conventional hemorrhoidectomy within 1 year follow-up

Conventional hemorrhoidectomy is still used for patients but a variety of less invasive treatments are also developed. Stapled hemorrhoidectomy is known as a beneficial technique. Here we aimed to evaluate and compare the results of stapled hemorrhoidectomy with conventional methods in patients who require hemorrhoidectomy.

This study was performed on 120 patients with stage 3 or 4 hemorrhoids. Mean resting pressure (MRP) and mean squeezing pressure (MSP) were measured before surgeries. Patients were then randomized into 2 groups of 60 patients. Group 1 underwent stapled hemorrhoidectomy and group 2 underwent conventional hemorrhoidectomy. The pain of patients was also determined using the visual analogue scale (VAS) for each patient 1, 2 and 3 days after the surgeries. Patients were then followed for 1 month after surgeries for evaluating the surgical outcomes, MRP and MSP. In terms of recurrence, they underwent clinical and anoscopic re-examination at least once in the next 6 months and 12 months after interventions.

We showed that both MRP and MSP did not change significantly in both groups after interventions (P>0.05). We also observed a significant decline in the pain of both groups (P<0.001) and also a significantly lower pain in group 1 (P<0.05). Our data showed that patients in group 1 required less analgesic after procedures (P=0.001). Evaluation of recurrence rate 6 and 12 months after interventions showed that patients who underwent stapled hemorrhoidectomy had a significant higher recurrence rate within 12 months compared to the other group (P=0.003).

Stapled hemorrhoidectomy is a safe and effective method that is associated with lower pain, hospitalization duration and no significant complications within 1 year follow-up. But on the other hand, this surgical method was associated with a higher recurrence rate.