title: Prospective, randomized trial comparing diathermy and Harmonic Scalpel hemorrhoidectomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to compare diathermy and Harmonic Scalpel hemorrhoidectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty consecutive patients were randomly assigned to 2 groups: Group 1 (diathermy) and Group 2 (Harmonic Scalpel).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median duration of surgery was 10 minutes for both groups. The median number of pethidine injections used for both groups was zero. The median number of oral analgesic tablets taken was 13 by Group 1 and 14 by Group 2 patients. The median number of tubes of lidocaine jelly used was two by Group 1 and three by Group 2. There was no statistical difference between pain scores recorded by both groups. Five patients in Group 1 developed posthemorrhoidectomy bleed vs. one patient in Group 2 (P = NS).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hemorrhoidectomy by Harmonic Scalpel is comparable to diathermy hemorrhoidectomy in terms of postoperative pain and complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Colorectal Surgery, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Seow-Choen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004564:Electrocoagulation / Q000379:methods*; D004598:Electrosurgery / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006484:Hemorrhoids / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics