title: Randomized clinical trial of haemorrhoidectomy under a mixture of local anaesthesia versus general anaesthesia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Application of a topical anaesthetic agent may facilitate infiltration of local anaesthetic at haemorrhoidectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A randomized clinical trial of 53 consecutive patients requiring elective haemorrhoidectomy was carried out. One group underwent haemorrhoidectomy under general anaesthesia, while the second group had topical anaesthetic cream (containing lignocaine and prilocaine) applied followed by local anaesthetic infiltration for surgical anaesthesia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no differences between the two groups in terms of operating time, postoperative pain, nausea or vomiting, pain-free interval after operation, analgesic requirements or patients' satisfaction with the method of anaesthesia. Postoperative oxygen saturation and pulse rate were similar in the two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Topical anaesthetic and local anaesthesia can be used effectively for haemorrhoidectomy and provide an alternative to general anaesthesia.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Colorectal Surgery and Anaesthesia, Singapore General Hospital, Outram Road, Singapore 169608.
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: K W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Eu
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Heah
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Seow-Choen
authors.forename: Y W
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Chan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000768:Anesthesia, General; D019162:Anesthetics, Combined / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004564:Electrocoagulation; D005260:Female; D006484:Hemorrhoids / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D015552:Injections, Intralesional; D008012:Lidocaine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000077442:Lidocaine, Prilocaine Drug Combination; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009824:Ointments; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011318:Prilocaine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011351:Proctoscopy; D015742:Propofol; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D019162:Anesthetics, Combined; D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous; D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D000077442:Lidocaine, Prilocaine Drug Combination; D009824:Ointments; D011318:Prilocaine; D008012:Lidocaine; D015742:Propofol