INITIAL EXPERIENCE WITH STAPLED HAEMORRHOIDECTOMY FOR TREATMENT OF SYMPTOMATIC HAEMORRHOIDS

Objectives: To describe initial experience with stapled haemorrhoidectomy as a procedure for symptomatic haemorrhoids. Methodology: This descriptive study was conducted at department of surgery, Kuwait Teaching Hospital Peshawar from September 2008 to August 2009. All patients with hemorrhoids who failed to respond to conservative methods and underwent stapled haemorrhoidectomy after informed consent were included in the study. The demographics, presenting complaints, degree of piles, operating time and problems, postoperative pain and any other complications were recorded on a proforma. Patients were followed up at 1 week, 3 weeks and then 6- monthly for up to 18- months. Results: The mean age of the sample of 34 patients was 48.7+9.64 years. Five(14.7%) patients had bleeding from staple line, requiring suturing in two and packing in rest of the three(8.82%). Postoperative pain was recorded using visual analogue scale. Thirty one(91%) patients were discharged home after overnight stay. Twenty two(64.7%) patients returned to their routine activities within a week. Nine(26.4%) patients took up to two weeks to return to their daily routine. One(2.9%) patient had residual haemorrhoid requiring band ligation at 3 weeks. Eleven(32.35%) patients had residual skin tags without any other symptoms. None of the patients had recurrence, anal stenosis, incontinence, fecal urgency or sepsis. Conclusion: The results of our study revealed that only a few of the patients after stapled hemorrhoidectomy had bleeding from staple line while majority were discharged home after overnight stay and returned to their routine activities within a week.