Is continued anal dilatation necessary after a Lord's procedure for haemorrhoids?
Forty patients with symptomatic haemorrhoids had a Lord's procedure performed under general anaesthetic. Anal pressures were recorded before and after the dilatation. The patients were then randomly allocated to one of two regimens. Group 1 was given only a bulk laxative and group 2 was given a bulk laxative and a large anal dilator to use over the next few months according to Lord's regimen. When reviewed at 3 months and 12 months there was no difference in the results between the two groups. We conclude that the use of an anal dilator does not improve the result after a Lord's procedure.
D000328:Adult; D001003:Anal Canal / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004106:Dilatation; D005260:Female; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage; D006484:Hemorrhoids / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011312:Pressure; D011538:Pruritus Ani; D012002:Rectal Diseases; D012005:Rectal Prolapse; D013997:Time Factors