Background: The literature indicates higher recurrence rates for stapled hemorrhoidopexy than for conventional techniques. This could be due to inappropriate patient selection.
Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the short- and long-term outcome after stapled hemorrhoidopexy compared with the Milligan-Morgan procedure in a homogeneous patient population with circumferential third-degree hemorrhoids.
Design and patients: One hundred thirty patients were enrolled into a randomized controlled study, of which 122 were clinically evaluated at weeks 1, 2, and 4, and thereafter each year for a minimum of 3 years. Patients completed a questionnaire for symptoms, function, and pain. Pain was assessed using a visual analog scale. Recurrences were determined by anoscopy and self-report.
Settings: The study was performed at the University Hospital Hamburg.
Main outcome measures: Endpoints were pain, recurrence, bleeding, itching/burning, urinary retention, incontinence symptoms, and prolonged rate of wound healing.
Results: The cumulative recurrence rates after 5 years were 18 % (n = 11) in the stapled hemorrhoidopexy group and 23 % (n = 14) in the Milligan-Morgan group (p = 0.65). Patients who underwent stapled hemorrhoidopexy had significantly less postoperative pain with mean VAS scores at week 1: 3.1 vs. 6.2; week 2: 0.5 vs. 3; week 4: 0.05 vs. 0.6 (p < 0.001), and demonstrated less burning/itching sensation 4 weeks after surgery compared with the Milligan-Morgan group (4.9 vs. 19.7 %; p < 0.001). The postoperative bleeding rate was 4.9 % in both groups and the rate of urinary retention did not differ significantly (4.9 % vs. 1.6 %; p = 0.309). Postoperative incontinence symptoms (6.6 % versus 3.3 %; p = 0.40) resolved within the first 6 months.
Limitations: Detailed measurement of incontinence was not possible because postoperative symptoms resolved between consultations, and pathological results were examined retrospectively.
Conclusions: The results show a similar rate of recurrence in the long term and suggest increased patient comfort in the early postoperative course after stapled hemorrhoidopexy. In patients with circumferential third-degree hemorrhoids, stapled hemorrhoidopexy is as effective as the Milligan-Morgan procedure.