Stapled hemorrhoidopexy versus Milligan–Morgan hemorrhoidectomy: a short-term follow-up on 640 consecutive patients

Network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials comparing the procedure for prolapse and hemorrhoids, Milligan-Morgan hemorrhoidectomy and tissue-selecting therapy stapler in the treatment of grade III and IV internal hemorrhoids(Meta-analysis)

BACKGROUND

Hemorrhoids are one of the most common conditions in the world, and grade III and IV internal hemorrhoids are mainly treated with surgery. However, there are many different surgical methods, and many postoperative complications occur. Therefore, we aimed to update and expand our previous work to compare the safety and efficacy of the procedure for prolapse and hemorrhoids (PPH), Milligan-Morgan hemorrhoidectomy (MMH) and tissue-selecting therapy stapler (TST) in the treatment of grade III and IV internal hemorrhoids.

METHODS

We performed a network meta-analysis. We searched the Cochrane library, Embase, PubMed, Medline, Web of Science, CNKI, Wangfang, and VIP databases up to May 20, 2019. All randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing PPH, MMH and TST in the treatment of grade III and IV internal hemorrhoids were included. We performed a Bayesian network meta-analysis to integrate the adverse events of all treatments. This work is reported in line with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement and Assessing the Methodological Quality of Systematic Reviews (AMSTAR) guidelines. This study was registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42019137270.

RESULT

Twenty-two RCTs that recruited 3511 patients were identified. Among these patients, 1379 patients underwent PPH, 805 patients underwent TST, and 1327 patients underwent MMH. In terms of adverse events, TST presented the lowest urinary retention rates and fecal incontinence rates. TST exhibited fewer incidences of anal stenosis than PPH and MMH. Importantly, PPH showed the weakest effects on reducing recurrence rates in hemorrhoid patients.

CONCLUSIONS

The current study indicated that TST showed optimal potential superior clinical effects for grade III and IV hemorrhoids compared to PPH and MMH. However, high-quality large sample RCTs are still expected.

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.