Hemorrhoidectomy in Patients with Grade III and IV Disease: Harmonic Scalpel compared with Conventional technique.

Abstract

Objectives: To compare conventional hemorrhoidectomy with harmonic scalped hemorhoidectomy for Ferguson hemorrhoidectomy is traditional closed procedure for 3^rd and 4^th degree hemorrhoids that is being practiced since centuries. With new innovations and technology, harmonic scalpel is an ultrasonic device which has shown to have promising results. With these two techniques a comparison study variables of pain outcome as a patient perceives, time taken for operation and length of stay in hospital. Study Design: Randomized controlled trial. Setting: Services hospital Lahore. Period: From August 2015 to February, 2016. Material & Methods: Patients were divided into two equal groups: Group A: conventional hemorrhoidectomy and Group B: Harmonic Scalpel. The study was performed by a single surgical operating team. Patient’s selection criteria were male and female between 20 to 80 ages with III and IV degree hemorrhoids. The outcomes were operative time, post-operative pain and duration of stay in the hospital. Results: One hundred patients with mean age 40.86+10.26 were included and randomly assigned. This came out significant difference in operative time 28.4+11.004, postoperative pain 3.73+1.96, and length of hospital stay 2.43+1.795. There were equal distribution in age and gender in both groups. Conclusions: It is concluded that harmonic scalpel technique in hemorrhoidectomy is better than conventional closed hemorrhoidectomy in 3^rd and 4^th degree hemorrhoids.