Efficacy of Doppler-guided hemorrhoidal artery ligation with mucopexy, in the short and long terms for patients with hemorrhoidal disease

Milligan-Morgan hemorrhoidectomy combined with rubber band ligation and polidocanol foam sclerotherapy for the management of grade III/IV hemorrhoids: a retrospective study

BACKGROUND

Hemorrhoids are one of the most common and annoying benign diseases in the field of colorectal surgery. A Milligan-Morgan hemorrhoidectomy (MMH) is the most frequently applied surgical technique due to its clear efficacy and high success rate, but the reported postoperative complications remain a major problem. This study aimed to retrospectively evaluate the efficacy and safety of a MMH combined with rubber band ligation and polidocanol foam sclerotherapy (MMH + RBL + PFS) for the management of grade III/IV hemorrhoids.

METHODS

This was a single-center retrospective study. A total of 255 patients with grade III/IV hemorrhoids who underwent MMH + RBL + PFS (n = 128) or MMH (n = 127) between May 2022 and June 2023 were included in the study. The primary outcomes included recurrence rates, hemorrhoid severity score (HSS), and patient satisfaction 12 months after surgery. Secondary outcomes included intraoperative outcomes and postoperative outcomes.

RESULTS

Follow-up was conducted by telephone or outpatient visit 12 months after surgery. The recurrence rate was lower in the MMH + RBL + PFS group than in the MMH group (p < 0.05). The patient satisfaction score was higher in the MMH + RBL + PFS group than in the MMH group (p < 0.05), and there was no significant difference in the HSS between the two groups (p > 0.05). The median operation time in the two groups was similar (16 min (15-20 min) vs.16 min (15-18 min), p > 0.05). The median number of incisions in the the MMH + RBL + PFS group was 3 (2-3), while that in the MMH group was 3 (3-4) (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in intraoperative blood loss between the two groups (p > 0.05). Visual analog scale pain scores were lower in the MMH + RBL + PFS group than in the MMH group at the first postoperative defecation at 12 h and at 1, 3, and 7 days (all p < 0.05). The wound healing time was shorter in the MMH + RBL + PFS group than in the MMH group (27.62 ± 3.74 vs. 28.73 ± 4.48 days, respectively, p < 0.05). The incidence of urinary retention was lower in the MMH + RBL + PFS group than in the MMH group (5.47% vs. 12.60, respectively, p < 0.05). Nine patients (one case in the MMH + RBL + PFS group and eight cases in the MMH group (p < 0.05)) had delayed bleeding and were successfully controlled with manual compression or surgical hemostasis. No cases had anal stenosis in the MMH + RBL + PFS group, and six cases (4.72%) had it in the MMH group, all with mild anal stenosis and successfully treated by dilatation alone (p < 0.01). No incision infection or anal incontinence occurred in either group. At the 12-month follow-up after surgery, the recurrence rate was lower in the MMH + RBL + PFS group (0.78%) than in the MMH group (7.09%) (p < 0.05). The patient satisfaction score was higher in the MMH + RBL + PFS group (91.41%) than in the MMH group (81.10%) (p < 0.05), and there was no significant difference in the HSS between the two groups (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Compared with the MMH, the MMH + RBL + PFS surgical procedure is safe and effective for grade III/IV hemorrhoids, which is associated with a lower recurrence rate, a higher patient satisfaction score, a lower postoperative pain score, fewer postoperative complications, and a shorter wound healing time.

The comparison of doppler-guided haemorrhoidal artery ligation and the tissue selecting technique for patients with grade III/IV haemorrhoids: a retrospective cohort study

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and the safety of Doppler-guided hemorrhoid artery ligation (DG-HAL) and tissue-selecting technique (TST) in patients with grade III/IV hemorrhoids. We conducted a retrospective analysis of 251 patients with grade III/IV hemorrhoids between January 2019 and January 2021. Among them, 119 patients had received TST, and the remaining 132 patients received DG-HAL. We collected and compared clinical characteristics of both groups, including post-operative visual analog scale (VAS) for pain, post-operative bleeding, post-operative defecation, urinary retention, and recurrence rate (prolapse and bleeding). The VAS pain score of the first post-operative defecation and at the post-operative day (POD)1 and 2 for the DG-HAL group was lower than those for the TST group (P = 0.006 and P = 0.029). The incidence of post-operative complications (including bleeding, urinary retention and sensation of rectal tenesmus) in the DG-HAL group was lower than that in the TST group (P = 0.021, P = 0.035 and P = 0.047). At follow-up by telephone or outpatient 3 years after surgery, the recurrence rate (prolapse) was lower in the TST group than in the DG-HAL group (P = 0.013). Subgroup analysis showed a higher prolapse recurrence rate in grade IV patients than grade III patients after DG-HAL (P = 0.013). DG-HAL had fewer complications, lower bleeding rates, and less early post-operative pain but showed a higher recurrence rate than TST at the 3-year follow-up, especially in grade IV patients.

The Italian Unitary Society of Colon-Proctology (Società Italiana Unitaria di Colonproctologia) guidelines for the management of acute and chronic hemorrhoidal disease

The aim of these evidence-based guidelines is to present a consensus position from members of the Italian Unitary Society of Colon-Proctology (Società Italiana Unitaria di Colon-Proctologia, SIUCP) on the diagnosis and management of hemorrhoidal disease, with the goal of guiding physicians in the choice of the best treatment option. A panel of experts was charged by the Board of the SIUCP to develop key questions on the main topics related to the management of hemorrhoidal disease and to perform an accurate and comprehensive literature search on each topic, in order to provide evidence-based answers to the questions and to summarize them in statements. All the clinical questions were discussed by the expert panel in multiple rounds through the Delphi approach and, for each statement, a consensus among the experts was reached. The questions were created according to PICO (patients, intervention, comparison, and outcomes) criteria, and the statements were developed adopting the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations) methodology. In cases of grade 1 hemorrhoidal prolapse, outpatient procedures including hemorrhoidal laser procedure and sclerotherapy may be considered the preferred surgical options. For grade 2 prolapse, nonexcisional procedures including outpatient treatments, hemorrhoidal artery ligation and mucopexy, laser hemorrhoidoplasty, the Rafaelo procedure, and stapled hemorrhoidopexy may represent the first-line treatment options, whereas excisional surgery may be considered in selected cases. In cases of grades 3 and 4, stapled hemorrhoidopexy and hemorrhoidectomy may represent the most effective procedures, even if, in the expert panel opinion, stapled hemorrhoidopexy represents the gold-standard treatment for grade 3 hemorrhoidal prolapse.

Management of Hemorrhoids and Anal Fissures

Hemorrhoids and anal fissures are two of the most common benign anorectal diseases. Despite their high prevalence, diagnostic accuracy of benign anorectal disease is suboptimal at 70% for surgeons, especially for hemorrhoidal diseases. Once the diagnosis is correctly made, numerous medical and surgical treatment options are available, each with different rates of success and complications. In this article, the authors review each step of patient management, with emphasis on evidence-based treatment options for hemorrhoids and anal fissures. The article discusses the pathophysiology, diagnosis, medical management, and procedures for hemorrhoids followed by a detailed overview on the management of anal fissures.

Effect of sacral erector spinae plane block on post-hemorrhoidectomy pain: A randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Hemorrhoidectomy is a common surgical procedure associated with significant postoperative pain. The conventional analgesic methods used for hemorrhoidectomy often have adverse effects and may not provide adequate pain relief. The sacral erector spinae plane block (ESPB) is a newly introduced technique that has shown promise in various surgical procedures. This prospective, randomized, controlled trial aimed to evaluate the analgesic effects of sacral ESPB following hemorrhoidectomy.

METHODS

Seventy patients undergoing hemorrhoidectomy were divided into 2 groups: the control group and the sacral ESPB group. Bilateral sacral ESPB was performed in the sacral ESPB group, whereas no intervention was performed in the control group. The numeric rating scale at rest and during the active period (mobilizing) was used as the primary outcome measure. Secondary outcome measures were the cumulative doses of tramadol, the number of patients who required rescue analgesia postoperatively, and quality of recovery-15 Turkish version patient recovery quality.

RESULTS

The sacral ESPB group had significantly low numeric rating scale scores at various time points (P < .05). More patients in the control group needed rescue analgesia during the postoperative period (P < .001). The dosages of tramadol consumption after the first 24 hours postoperatively were significantly lower in the sacral ESPB group compared with the control group (P < .001). Furthermore, quality of recovery-15 Turkish version scores were high in the sacral ESPB group (P < .001).

CONCLUSION

The results suggest that sacral ESPB is an effective method for post-hemorrhoidectomy pain management, reducing the need for additional analgesics and improving patient recovery.

Milligan-Morgan hemorrhoidectomy combined with non-doppler hemorrhoidal artery ligation for the treatment of grade III/IV hemorrhoids: a single centre retrospective study

BACKGROUND

Milligan-Morgan hemorrhoidectomy (MMH) is the most widely used surgical procedure because of its precise curative effect, but it has the disadvantages such as obvious postoperative pain and bleeding. To retrospectively evaluate the efficacy and safety of MMH combined with non-Doppler hemorrhoidal artery ligation (MMH + ND-HAL) for the treatment of grade III/IV hemorrhoids.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective analysis of 115 patients with grade III/IV hemorrhoids, 53 patients had received MMH + ND-HAL, and the remaining 62 patients received MMH. We collected and compared demographic and clinical characteristics of both groups, including intraoperative blood loss, postoperative visual analog scale (VAS) for pain, analgesic consumption, postoperative bleeding, perianal incision edema, urinary retention, anal stenosis, anal incontinence incidence, recurrence rate (prolapse or bleeding), and patient satisfaction.

RESULTS

The VAS pain score of the first postoperative defecation and at the postoperative 12 h, 1 day, 2 days, 3 days, and 7 days, as well as the total analgesic consumption within 7 days, for the MMH + ND-HAL group were lower than those for the MMH group (P < 0.05). The intraoperative blood loss, the incidence of postoperative bleeding, perianal incision edema, and urinary retention in the MMH + ND-HAL group was lower than that in the MMH group (P < 0.05). No anal stenosis or anal incontinence occurred in either group. At follow-up by telephone or outpatient 12 months after surgery, the recurrence rate (prolapse or bleeding) was lower in the MMH + ND-HAL group than in the MMH group (P < 0.05), and satisfaction was higher in the MMH + ND-HAL group than in the MMH group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

MMH + ND-HAL was a satisfactory surgical modality for treating III/IV hemorrhoids.

Safety and effectiveness of hemorrhoidal artery ligation using the HAL-RAR technique for hemorrhoidal disease

PURPOSE

A wide variety of methods has been proposed for treating hemorrhoidal disease. The aim of the study is to assess the safety and effectiveness of hemorrhoidal artery ligation with rectoanal repair (HAL-RAR).

METHODS

Retrospective study from January 2010 to November 2019 of patients who underwent HAL-RAR for grade II, resistant to conservative treatment, and grades III and IV hemorrhoidal disease. Demographics, degree of disease, hospital stay, postoperative pain, complications, and recurrence were recorded. Patients were followed up at postoperative days 1 and 8 and at 1, 6, and 12 months.

RESULTS

A total of 105 patients (60 men, 45 women) underwent HAL-RAR. Median age was 49 (range, 20-86) years. Two patients with hemorrhoidal thrombosis underwent emergent excision of the hemorrhoid. Median length of hospital stay was 2 (range, 1-13) days. Patients reported median visual analog scale pain score 3 (range, 1-5) on the 1st postoperative day. At 1 month, no patient reported pain, 84.76% of patients confirmed complete resolution of symptoms, while complication rate was 7.61%: 2 patients presented urinary retention, 3 dyschezia, 2 bleeding, and 1 hemorrhoidal necrosis. At 6 months, 2 patients presented mild symptoms and 7 recurrence. At 12 months, 92.4% of patients experienced complete resolution of symptoms, 2 patients intermittent bleeding, and 2 recurrence. Overall recurrence and re-intervention rate were 8.57% rate and 10.5%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

HAL-RAR is a safe and effective minimal invasive operative technique related to a high percentage of success, low complication, and recurrence rates. Long-term follow-up is lacking and would better establish the results of this technique.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Trial registration number NCT04778124 Date of registration 26/02/2021 "retrospectively registered".

Selective Hemorrhoidal Dearterialization with High Mucopexy in the Surgical Treatment of Hemorrhoidal Disease

The doppler-guided transanal hemorrhoidal dearterialization technique associated with mucopexy is a noninvasive surgical option used to treat hemorrhoidal disease (HD).

Objective To compare and analyze the results using a variation of the doppler-guided transanal hemorrhoidal dearterialization technique with the technique of selective hemorrhoidal dearterialization with high mucopexy in the treatment of HD.

Method A total of 292 patients who underwent surgical treatment for grade II, III and IV HD from March 2012 to December 2017 were studied. From this total, 110 (37.6%) patients underwent a conventional doppler-guided transanal hemorrhoidal dearterialization with mucopexy (CD), and 182 (62.3%) underwent selective hemorrhoidal dearterialization with high mucopexy (SHeLF). In the group of patients undergoing CD, 4 patients (3.64%) had grade II HD, 82 (74.55%) grade III, and 24 (21.82%) grade IV. In the group submitted to SHeLF, 18 (9.89%) patients had grade II HD, 86 (47.25%) had grade III, and 65 (35.71%) had grade IV. The same surgeon operated all patients under spinal anesthesia. In patients undergoing CD, six arterial branches have been dearterialized, while in patients undergoing SHeLF, the hemorrhoidary nipples submitted to a dearterialization were selected (from 1 to 5) by intraoperative evaluation followed by high rectal mucopexy. In the postoperative period, the following parameters were evaluated: pain, tenesmus, bleeding, and recurrence.

Moderate results to severe pain was a postoperative complaint reported by 13 (11.82%) patients undergoing CD, and by 19 (10.44%) undergoing SHeLF. Intense tenesmus was reported by 26 (23.64%) patients undergoing CD and by 7 (3.85%) undergoing SHeLF. Three patients (2.73%) undergoing CD and 1 (0.55%) undergoing SHeLF evolved with postoperative bleeding. One patient (0.55%) in the group undergoing CD required surgical review of hemostasis. Six patients (5.45%) who underwent CD and 8 (4.39%) who underwent SHeLF were reoperated due to disease recurrence.

Conclusion Comparing statistics, patients undergoing the SHeLF technique have less postoperative pain, tenesmus and postoperative bleeding when compared with CD.

Evaluation of the efficacy and morbidity of radiofrequency thermocoagulation in the treatment of hemorrhoidal disease

INTRODUCTION

Grade III hemorrhoidal disease may require surgical treatment. Several minimally invasive techniques can be offered to the patient, particularly ligation of the hemorrhoidal arteries/mucopexy or even stapled hemorrhoidopexy. A technique of radiofrequency thermocoagulation of hemorrhoids has recently been introduced. The aim of our study was to assess the efficacy and early morbidity of this procedure.

METHODS

Data from successive patients undergoing radiofrequency thermocoagulation for grade II to IV hemorrhoidal disease between December 2017 and December 2019 were retrospectively collated.

RESULTS

Seventy-four patients, with a mean age of 53 years, underwent operation during the study period. The major indication was grade III hemorrhoidal disease in 95% of patients. More than 80% of patients underwent operation as an outpatient. Eighteen (24.3%) patients developed a postoperative complication within 30 days, of whom two (2.7%) required revisional surgery for rectal bleeding and severe anal pain, respectively. Seven (9.5%) patients were re-admitted to hospital and 18 (24.3%) had an unscheduled early return visit within 30 postoperative days. At three months following surgery, the anatomical and functional result was satisfactory in more than 93% of patients.

CONCLUSION

Radiofrequency hemorrhoidal thermocoagulation is an effective technique in the treatment of grade III hemorrhoidal disease. Despite a non-negligible rate of minor postoperative complications requiring an early consultation or re-hospitalisation, severe complications occurred in less than 3% of operated patients.

Ultrasound-guided pudendal nerve block in patients undergoing open hemorrhoidectomy: a double-blind randomized controlled trial

PURPOSE

In this double-blind randomized trial, we aimed to compare the postoperative pain, complications, and length of hospital stay in patients undergoing open hemorrhoidectomy under spinal anesthesia with or without the pudendal nerve block.

METHODS

Patients undergoing Milligan-Morgan hemorrhoidectomy under spinal anesthesia were randomized to undergo a pudendal nerve block or no intervention. Postoperative pain on the visual analogue scale (VAS) at 6, 12, 24, and 48 h; opioid administration; and length of hospital stay were recorded and analyzed.

RESULTS

Over the study period, 49 patients were included and 23 randomized in the treatment arm. No differences in terms of age, gender, and preoperative risk factors were noted between groups. The pain on the VAS at 6, 12, 24, and 48 h was 2.8 vs. 4.6 (p = 0.046), 3.4 vs. 4.7 (p = 0.697), 1.4 vs. 3.1 (p = 0.016), and 1.0 vs. 2.1 (p = 0.288) in the treatment and control groups respectively. No differences in opioids use or complications were noted. Length of hospital stay was 1.2 vs. 1.8 days respectively (p = 0.046). No complications directly associated to the pudendal nerve block were observed. Multivariate analysis revealed that the pudendal nerve block was an independent factor reducing the postoperative pain.

CONCLUSIONS

The ultrasound-guided pudendal nerve block in patients undergoing open hemorrhoidectomy under spinal anesthesia showed a statistically significant reduction in postoperative pain and length of hospital stay. The proposed technique appeared to be safe and feasible and may be recommendable in patients undergoing open hemorrhoidectomy.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04251884.