title: Complications after stapled hemorrhoidectomy: can they be prevented?
abstract: Stapled hemorrhoidectomy (SH), a new approach to the treatment of hemorrhoids, removes a circumferential strip of mucosa about four centimeters above the dentate line. A review of 1,107 patients treated with SH from twelve Italian coloproctological centers has revealed a 15% (164/1,107) complication rate. Immediate complications (first week) were: severe pain in 5.0% of all patients, bleeding (4.2%), thrombosis (2.3%), urinary retention (1.5%), anastomotic dehiscence (0.5%), fissure (0.2%), perineal intramural hematoma (0.1%), and submucosal abscess (0.1%). Bleeding was treated surgically in 24%, with Foley insertion 15%; and by epinephrine infiltration in 2%; 53% of patients with bleeding received no treatment and 6% needed transfusion. One patient with anastomotic dehiscence needed pelvic drainage and colostomy formation. The most common complication after 1 week was recurrence of hemorrhoids in 2.3% of patients, severe pain (1.7%), stenosis (0.8%), fissure (0.6%), bleeding (0.5%), skin tag (0.5%), thrombosis (0.4%), papillary hypertrophy (0.3%) fecal urency (0.2%), staples problems (0.2%), gas flatus and fecal incontinence (0.2%), intramural abscess, partial dehiscence, mucosal septum and intussusception (each <0.1%). Recurrent hemorrhoids were treated by ligation in 40% and by Milligan-Morgan procedure in 32%. All hemorrhoidal thromboses were excised. Anal stenoses were treated by dilatation in 55% and by anoplasty in 45%. Fissure was treated by dilatation in 57%. Most complications (65%) occurred after the surgeon had more than 25 case experiences of stapled hemorrhoidectomy. The most common complication in the first 25 cases of the surgeon's experience was bleeding (48%). Even though SH appears to be promising, we feel that a multicenter randomized study with a long-term follow-up comparing SH and banding is necessary before recommending the procedure. Most complications can be avoided by respecting the rectal wall anatomy in the execution of the procedure.
authors.affiliation: Rome American Hospital, Via Emilio Longoni 69, I-00155 Rome, Italy. nadia.fabrini@rahonline.com
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ravo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Amato
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bianco
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Boccasanta
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bottini
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carriero
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Milito
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dodi
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mascagni
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Orsini
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pietroletti
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ripetti
authors.forename: G B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Tagariello
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002983:Clinical Competence; D005260:Female; D006484:Hemorrhoids / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012002:Rectal Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012007:Rectum / Q000601:surgery*; D012307:Risk Factors; D017792:Surgical Stapling / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*