Long-Term Functional Outcome After Stapled and Excisional Hemorrhoidectomy

Abstract

Stapled hemorrhoidectomy (SH) as described by Longo is a recently added option for hemorrhoid surgery. Interest in SH has been principally driven by the fact that conventional excision hemorrhoidectomy (EH) has been an extremely painful procedure because it involves excision of hemorrhoidal tissue along the extremely sensitive anoderm. SH, on the other hand, has been shown to be associated with decreased postoperative pain because it does not involve the sensate anal mucosa below the dentate line. To date there have been many randomized controlled studies comparing circular SH with traditional excision techniques. Despite proven early postoperative advantages for SH, the long-term benefits and effect on patient quality of life (QOL) compared with EH still remain to be debated. This study aimed to evaluate long-term patient outcomes via a validated health-related QOL survey. QOL measures were satisfactory in both groups across all subscales of physical health summary measures and mental health summary measures. This coincided with Wexner continence scores, which were also satisfactory, with a median of 0 in both groups. QOL, continence scores, and long-term symptom follow-up are similar in patients who undergo SH or EH.