Comparison of transanal haemorrhoidal dearterialisation and stapled haemorrhoidopexy in management of haemorrhoidal disease: a retrospective study and literature review

Simple mucopexy and hemorrhoidal arterial ligation with and without Doppler guide: a randomized clinical trial for short-term outcome

PURPOSE

Hemorrhoids are the most common benign anorectal diseases. Mucopexy strengthens the anal canal mucosa, which can be performed alone or in combination with Doppler-guided hemorrhoidal artery ligation (DG-HAL). In this study, we compared the postoperative complications between simple mucopexy plus HAL with and without a Doppler guide.

METHODS

This study was performed as a single-blinded randomized clinical trial. Patients referred to a tertiary colorectal referral clinic with grades 3 and 4 hemorrhoids who were candidates for surgical intervention entered the study. Thirty-six patients were randomly divided into 2 groups. Group A including 18 patients underwent mucopexy and DG-HAL and the other 18 patients (group B) underwent standard mucopexy and HAL without a Doppler guide. Postoperative pain score and the duration of oral analgesic consumption were recorded. Additionally, postoperative symptoms and complications were recorded and compared between the 2 methods.

RESULTS

There was no significant difference between the 2 groups in terms of pain score and the duration of postoperative analgesic consumption as well as the incidence of postoperative complications. Besides, the primary grade of hemorrhoids was not significantly associated with recurrence, but there was a significant association between body mass index and Wexner score (WS) with recurrence. The mean WS of patients showed a significant decrease in both groups postoperatively. However, the rate of WS reduction was not remarkably different between the 2 groups.

CONCLUSION

Simple mucopexy with blind HAL (without Doppler guide) might be considered for the treatment of grades 3 and 4 hemorrhoids effectively.

Transanal hemorrhoidal dearterialization (THD) for hemorrhoidal disease: An Italian single-institution 5-year experience analysis and updated literature review

BACKGROUND

Hemorrhoidal disease is a highly prevalent, chronic disorder that usually compromise patients' quality of life. Despite recent advances in pharmacologic and surgical therapeutic options, a clear treatment "gold standard" is lacking. Our aim is to analyze the outcomes following Transanal Hemorrhoidal Dearterialization (THD) procedure.

METHODS

Patients who failed conservative treatment and underwent THD Doppler between 2017 and 2021 were enrolled. Follow-up interviews (consisting of clinical examination, Visual Analog Scale for pain-VAS, Vaizey incontinence score, Hemorrhoid Severity Score) were administered 1 week, 2 weeks, 1 month and 6 months after surgery.

RESULTS

Forty-seven out of 75 patients were male, and the mean age was 50 (± 17.9) years. Hemorrhoids were classified as Goligher's degree II in 25 cases, III in 40 and IV, simple irreducible without ischemic changes, in 10. The mean operative time was 35 (28-60) minutes, and most procedures were performed with epidural anesthesia (80%). No intraoperative complications occurred, and 73 patients (97.3%) were discharged within post-operative day 1. Early post-operative pain and bleeding occurred in 37.3% and 8% of patients, respectively. No patients experienced anal incontinence and severe symptoms at 6 months after surgery. The overall success rate was 97.3%.

CONCLUSIONS

THD is safe and effective in hemorrhoidal disease at degree II if bleeding, III, and IV without ischemic changes, both as a first intervention and on recurrence. Physician and patient need to understand each other's expectations, weight the risks and benefits, and customize the treatment.

Transanal hemorrhoidal dearterialization: Lessons learned from a personal series of 200 consecutive cases and a proposal for a tailor-made procedure

Background

Transanal hemorrhoidal dearterialization (THD) is an effective treatment for hemorrhoidal disease (HD). However, the surgical technique is not standardized and the results for advanced HD are controversial. The aim of this study was to assess surgical outcomes after a long follow-up and compare total and partial mucopexy.

Materials and methods

Between March 2011 and July 2014, THD was offered to patients with symptomatic prolapsed hemorrhoids (Grades II, III and IV). Dearterialization was performed with the guidance of Ultrasound Doppler and mucopexy for prolapsed piles, and regarded as total or partial (if less than 6 mucopexies). Post-operative complications, long-term results and patients’ satisfaction rates were analyzed.

Results

200 consecutive patients were recruited with a mean follow-up of 43 months (range 29 - 57 months). HD distribution was GII (N = 35, 17.5%), GIII (N = 124, 62%), and GIV (N = 41, 20.5%). Postoperative complications included transient tenesmus (26,5%), pain (14%) and fecal impaction (2,5%). Recurrence rates were 0, 2,4% and 17,1% for prolapse (p < 0,01) and 2,9%, 4% and 9,8% for bleeding (p = 0,33) in grades II, III and IV, respectively. Total mucopexy resulted in more tenesmus (31,2%) than partial mucopexy (14,5%), (p < 0,01). After 12 weeks of follow-up, 85% of patients were either very satisfied or satisfied; 8,5% were dissatisfied.

Conclusion

THD-mucopexy is safe with low overall recurrence. Grade IV HD is associated with more recurrence and postoperative complications. Total mucopexy is associated with more tenesmus, pain and fecal impaction. A tailor-made procedure with selective dearterialization and mucopexy may be the next step in this evolving technique.

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.THD is safe procedure for hemorrhoids with low overall recurrence of prolapse and bleeding.

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.THD for grade IV hemorrhoidal disease is associated with more recurrence.

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.THD with partial mucopexy achieves similar good results compared to total mucopexy.

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.THD with total mucopexy is associated with more postoperative tenesmus, pain and fecal impaction.

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.The number of dearterializations and mucopexies should be tailor-made.

Consensus statement of the Italian society of colorectal surgery (SICCR): management and treatment of hemorrhoidal disease

Hemorrhoidal disease (HD) is the most common proctological disease in the Western countries. However, its real prevalence is underestimated due to the frequent self-medication.The aim of this consensus statement is to provide evidence-based data to allow an individualized and appropriate management and treatment of HD. The strategy used to search for evidence was based on application of electronic sources such as MEDLINE, PubMed, Cochrane Review Library, CINAHL, and EMBASE.These guidelines are inclusive and not prescriptive.The recommendations were defined and graded based on the current levels of evidence and in accordance with the criteria adopted by American College of Chest Physicians. The recommendations were graded A, B, and C.

Comparison of surgical procedures implemented in recent years for patients with grade III and IV hemorrhoids: a network meta-analysis

PURPOSE

This study aimed to investigate the complications and recurrence rates of the different surgical procedures implemented in recent years for the treatment of grade III and IV hemorrhoids using a network meta-analysis approach.

METHODS

A systematic literature search was conducted for randomized clinical trials (RCTs) published from January 2013 to August 2018, via PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and Web of Science. Data related to anal stenosis, fecal incontinence, hemorrhoids thrombosis, and recurrence rates were extracted from the included studies, which were selected based on associations with surgical procedures for grade III and IV hemorrhoids. A network meta-analysis was conducted by using the automated software Aggregate Data Drug Information System (ADDIS) 1.16.8 to evaluate and rank the safety and efficacy of the different surgical methods.

RESULTS

Twenty-one studies with 2799 participants involving nine surgical procedures for grade III and IV hemorrhoids were ultimately analyzed. Transanal hemorrhoidal dearterialization (THD) and stapled hemorrhoidectomy (SH) exhibited fewer anal stenosis than open hemorrhoidectomy (OH) and Harmonic scalpel (Harmonic). SH presented the highest fecal incontinence rates. OH and Harmonic presented lower hemorrhoids thrombosis than SH and THD. Importantly, SH and THD exhibited the highest recurrence rates, when compared with the other hemorrhoidectomy surgical procedures.

CONCLUSIONS

In summary, THD and SH were found to be associated with more complications and higher recurrence rates. In addition, the use of OH treatments resulted in less hemorrhoids thrombosis rate but higher recurrence rate. The use of Harmonic resulted in higher anal stenosis rate but lower recurrence rate.

Transanal Hemorrhoidal Dearterialization Versus Stapled Hemorrhoidopexy: Long-Term Follow-up of a Prospective Randomized Study

Aim. This study aims to compare the early and late outcomes of transanal hemorrhoidal dearterialization (THD) versus stapled hemorrhoidopexy (SH) for the treatment of hemorrhoidal disease. Methods. From January 2013 to December 2014, 100 patients—50 patients on each arm—were randomly allocated to THD or SH groups. The inclusion criteria were grade III and IV hemorrhoids diagnosed by clinical examination and proctoscopy. The primary outcome was to compare the recurrence rate with a minimum follow-up of 2 years, and the secondary outcome was to compare complications rate, time to return to work postsurgery, procedure length, and patient’s satisfaction between the 2 techniques. Results. The mean follow-up period was 33.7 ± 7.6. The recurrence rate was 4% in the SH group and 16% in the THD group ( P = .04). There was no difference in the intraoperative and postoperative complications rate; the pain score was significantly higher in the THD group. The mean operative time was significantly shorter in the SH group compared with the THD group. Patients in the THD group returned to work or routine activities significantly later compared with patients in the SH group. The overall satisfaction rate was also higher in the SH group. Conclusion. Both procedures are simple and easy to perform for the treatment of grade III and IV hemorrhoids. SH showed better results in terms of lower rate of recurrence, lower postoperative pain, quicker return to work, and higher patient satisfaction.

The HubBLe Trial: haemorrhoidal artery ligation (HAL) versus rubber band ligation (RBL) for symptomatic second- and third-degree haemorrhoids: a multicentre randomised controlled trial and health-economic evaluation

BACKGROUND

Optimal surgical intervention for low-grade haemorrhoids is unknown. Rubber band ligation (RBL) is probably the most common intervention. Haemorrhoidal artery ligation (HAL) is a novel alternative that may be more efficacious.

OBJECTIVE

The comparison of HAL with RBL for the treatment of grade II/III haemorrhoids.

DESIGN

A multicentre, parallel-group randomised controlled trial.

PERSPECTIVE

UK NHS and Personal Social Services.

SETTING

17 NHS Trusts.

PARTICIPANTS

Patients aged ≥ 18 years presenting with grade II/III (second- and third-degree) haemorrhoids, including those who have undergone previous RBL.

INTERVENTIONS

HAL with Doppler probe compared with RBL.

OUTCOMES

Primary outcome - recurrence at 1 year post procedure; secondary outcomes - recurrence at 6 weeks; haemorrhoid severity score; European Quality of Life-5 Dimensions, 5-level version (EQ-5D-5L); Vaizey incontinence score; pain assessment; complications; and cost-effectiveness.

RESULTS

A total of 370 participants entered the trial. At 1 year post procedure, 30% of the HAL group had evidence of recurrence compared with 49% after RBL [adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 2.23, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.42 to 3.51; p = 0.0005]. The main reason for the difference was the number of extra procedures required to achieve improvement/cure. If a single HAL is compared with multiple RBLs then only 37.5% recurred in the RBL arm (adjusted OR 1.35, 95% CI 0.85 to 2.15; p = 0.20). Persistence of significant symptoms at 6 weeks was lower in both arms than at 1 year (9% HAL and 29% RBL), suggesting significant deterioration in both groups over the year. Symptom score, EQ-5D-5L and Vaizey score improved in both groups compared with baseline, but there was no difference between interventions. Pain was less severe and of shorter duration in the RBL group; most of the HAL group who had pain had mild to moderate pain, resolving by 3 weeks. Complications were low frequency and not significantly different between groups. It appeared that HAL was not cost-effective compared with RBL. In the base-case analysis, the difference in mean total costs was £1027 higher for HAL. Quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) were higher for HAL; however, the difference was very small (0.01) resulting in an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of £104,427 per additional QALY.

CONCLUSIONS

At 1 year, although HAL resulted in fewer recurrences, recurrence was similar to repeat RBL. Symptom scores, complications, EQ-5D-5L and continence score were no different, and patients had more pain in the early postoperative period after HAL. HAL is more expensive and unlikely to be cost-effective in terms of incremental cost per QALY.

LIMITATIONS

Blinding of participants and site staff was not possible.

FUTURE WORK

The incidence of recurrence may continue to increase with time. Further follow-up would add to the evidence regarding long-term clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness. The polysymptomatic nature of haemorrhoidal disease requires a validated scoring system, and the data from this trial will allow further assessment of validity of such a system. These data add to the literature regarding treatment of grade II/III haemorrhoids. The results dovetail with results from the eTHoS study [Watson AJM, Hudson J, Wood J, Kilonzo M, Brown SR, McDonald A, et al. Comparison of stapled haemorrhoidopexy with traditional excisional surgery for haemorrhoidal disease (eTHoS): a pragmatic, multicentre, randomised controlled trial. Lancet 2016, in press.] comparing stapled haemorrhoidectomy with excisional haemorrhoidectomy. Combined results will allow expansion of analysis, allowing surgeons to tailor their treatment options to individual patients.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN41394716.

FUNDING

This project was funded by the NIHR Health Technology Assessment programme and will be published in full in Health Technology Assessment; Vol. 20, No. 88. See the NIHR Journals Library website for further project information.

Doppler-Guided Transanal Hemorrhoidal Dearterialization (DG-THD) Versus Stapled Hemorrhoidopexy (SH) in the Treatment of Third-Degree Hemorrhoids: Clinical Results at Short and Long-Term Follow-Up

INTRODUCTION

The stapled hemorrhoidopexy (SH) and the Doppler-guided transanal hemorrhoidal dearterialization (DG-THD) are minimally invasive procedures for the surgical treatment of hemorrhoids. This study aims to verify the efficacy of the DG-THD versus the SH in the treatment of third-degree hemorrhoids.

METHOD

One hundred consecutive patients were causally allocated to either procedure, obtaining two groups of 50 pts. A clinical examination was performed at 3, 7, 15, and 30 days after the operation. Quality of life, anal symptoms, recurrence of hemorrhoids, and reoperation were assessed by means of a questionnaire and of a clinical examination at long-term follow-up (7.0 year average).

RESULTS

At short-term follow-up, the median postoperative pain score was significantly lower in DG-THD group compared to SH group, (V.A.S 2 vs 6; t = 2.65, p < 0.01). The morbidity rate and the return to normal life and work were similar after the two procedures. At long-term follow-up, the incidence of piles was not statistically different between the two groups (DG-THD 10.0 %; SH 14.0 %). No differences were reported by patients in terms of satisfaction for surgery.

CONCLUSION

SH and DG-THD procedures do not show significantly different results with regard to the patients outcome. However, considering the lower p. o. pain, the DG-THD might be proposed as the first line treatment in third-degree hemorrhoids.

Doppler-guided hemorrhoidal dearterialization/transanal hemorrhoidal dearterialization: Technical evolution and outcomes after 20 years

In the setting of Hemorrhoidal Disease treatment, the option of conventional hemorrhoidectomy is highly effective, but it is still associated with postoperative pain and discomfort. For this reason, technical alternatives have been developed in order to reduce complications and to provide better postoperative recovery. To accomplish this aim, non-excisional techniques such as stapled hemorrhoidectomy and Doppler-guided hemorrhoidal ligation have been introduced into clinical practice with high expectations. The aim of this article is to revise the literature about transanal hemorrhoidal dearterialization technique in the treatment of hemorrhoidal disease, looking into its evolution, results and possible benefits over other modalities of surgical treatment. The literature review showed that Doppler-guided hemorrhoidal dearterialization is a safe and effective method to treat grades II to IV hemorrhoidal disease. Outcomes in patients presenting prolapse are satisfactory and the association of anopexy is an important aspect of this operation. Anal physiology disturbances are rarely observed and mainly transitory. This technique is an excellent option for every patient, especially in those with previous anal surgeries and in patients with previous alterations of fecal continence, when an additional procedure might represent a risk of definitive incontinence.

Evaluation and management of hemorrhoids: Italian society of colorectal surgery (SICCR) consensus statement

Hemorrhoids are one of the most common medical and surgical diseases and the main reason for a visit to a coloproctologist. This consensus statement was drawn up by the Italian society of colorectal surgery in order to provide practice parameters for an accurate assessment of the disease and consequent appropriate treatment. The authors made a careful search in the main databases (MEDLINE, PubMed, Embase and Cochrane), and all results were classified on the basis of the grade of recommendation (A-C) of the American College of Chest Physicians.