BACKGROUND:

Since its introduction, stapled hemorrhoidopexy has been increasingly indicated in the management of hemorrhoidal disease.

AIM:

Our primary end point was to evaluate the incidence of recurrent disease requiring another surgical intervention. On a secondary analysis, we also compared pain, complications, and patient's satisfaction after a tailored surgery.

METHODS:

We retrospectively reviewed 196 patients (103 males and 93 females) with a median age of 47.9 years (range, 17–78) who were undergoing stapled hemorrhoidopexy alone (STG; n=65) or combined surgery (CSG; n=131, stapled hemorrhoidopexy associated with resection).

RESULTS:

Complications were detected in 11 (5.6%) patients (4.6% for STG vs. 6.1% for CSG; p=0.95). At the same time, symptoms recurrence (13.8% vs. 8.4%; p=034), reoperation rate for complications (3.1% vs. 3.0%; p=1.0), and reoperation rate for recurrence (6.1% vs. 4.6%; p=1.0) were not different among groups. Grade IV patients were more commonly managed with simultaneous stapling and resection (63% vs. 49.5%), but none of them presented symptoms recurrence nor need reoperation due to recurrence. Median pain score during the first week was higher in CSG patients (0.8 vs. 1.7). After a follow-up of 24.9 months, satisfaction scores were similar (8.6; p=0.8).

CONCLUSION:

Recurrent symptoms were observed in 10% of patients, requiring surgery in approximately half of them. Even though the association of techniques may raise pain scores, a tailored approach based on amplified indication criteria and combined techniques seems to be an effective and safe alternative, with decreased relapse rates in patients suffering from more advanced hemorrhoidal disease. Satisfaction scores after hemorrhoidopexy are high.

Background:

Stapled hemorrhoidopexy is associated with less postoperative pain and faster recovery. However, it may be associated with a greater risk of symptomatic recurrence. We hypothesized that undertaking a limited surgical excision of hemorrhoid disease after stapling may be a valid approach for selected patients.

Aim:

To compare long-term results after stapled hemorrhoidopexy with and without complementation with closed excisional technique.

Method:

In a retrospective uni-institutional cohort study, sixty-five (29 men) patients underwent stapled hemorrhoidopexy and 21 (13 men) underwent stapled hemorrhoidopexy with excision. The same surgeons operated on all cases. Patients underwent stapled hemorrhoidectomy associated with excisional surgery if symptoms attributable to external hemorrhoid piles were observed preoperatively, or if residual prolapse or bulky external disease was observed after the firing of the stapler. A closed excisional diathermy hemorrhoidectomy without vascular ligation was utilized in all complemented cases. All clinical variables were obtained from a questionnaire evaluation obtained through e-mail, telephone interview, or office follow-up.

Results:

The median duration of postoperative follow-up was 48.5 (6-40) months. Patients with grades 3 and 4 hemorrhoid disease were operated on more frequently using stapled hemorrhoidopexy complemented with excisional technique (95.2% vs. 55.4%, p=0.001). Regarding respectively stapled hemorrhoidopexy and stapled hemorrhoidopexy complemented with excision, there was no difference between the techniques in relation to symptom recurrence (43% and 33%, p=0.45) and median interval between surgery and symptom recurrence (30 (8-84) and 38.8 (8-65) months, p=0.80). Eight (12.3%) patients were re-operated after stapled hemorrhoidopexy and 2 (9.6%), after hemorrhoidopexy with excision (p=0.78). Patient distribution in both groups according to the degree of postoperative satisfaction was similar (p=0.97).

Conclusion:

Stapled hemorrhoidopexy combined with an excisional technique was effective for more advanced hemorrhoid disease. The combination may have prevented symptomatic recurrence associated to stapled hemorrhoidopexy alone.