Clinical complications of hemorapy device versus Milligan-Morgan hemorrhoidectomy in patients with hemorrhoids in 2017-2018

Hemorrhoids can be managed by means of several therapeutic options. Regarding this, it is of fundamental importance to identify the hemorrhoidectomy method with fewer complications (e.g., bleeding, pain, and postoperative infections) or beneficial outcomes (e.g., accelerated speed of wound healing and resumption of normal life activities). Such knowledge can play a significant role in the advancement of medical and educational goals. Therefore, the present study was conducted to compare the clinical results of Milligan-Morgan surgery and hemorapy device in the treatment of patients with hemorrhoids.

This prospective study was conducted on 60 patients aged over 20 years with hemorrhoids referring to Bahonar and Afzalipour hospitals of Kerman, Iran, and diagnosed to need surgery by a surgical specialist. The study population was selected using a simple randomization method and then allocated into two groups of A and B, regardless of gender. Group A was operated by open or Milligan-Morgan technique, while group B was subjected to the hemorapy method. After the surgery, the patients’ data were recorded in specific forms and analyzed by SPSS software (version 21).

Out of 60 patients with hemorrhoids, 37 (64%) cases were male. Regarding the severity of hemorrhoids, 19 (32%) and 41 (68%) patients had fourth-degree and third-degree hemorrhoids, respectively. The mean age of the patients was 35.86±12.84 years. Four weeks after the surgery, the mean pain scores of the patients in the Milligan-Morgan and hemorapy groups were 3.67±1.84 and 1.67±1.35, respectively, showing a statistically significant difference (P=0.001). However, 8 weeks post-surgery, no pain, bleeding events, urinary retention, or incontinence were observed in the patients, except for anal stenosis in two patients treated with the Milligan-Morgan method.

According to the results, the hemorapy method resulted in lower postoperative pain than the Milligan-Morgan method. In addition, the hemorapy technique was accompanied by considerably fewer complications, such as bleeding, urinary retention, gas incontinence, and stenosis, compared to the Milligan-Morgan method. Consequently, the hemorapy method can be recommended for hemorrhoidectomy.