Haemorrhoidectomy: randomised controlled clinical trial of Ligasure compared with Milligan-Morgan operation.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy of the Ligasure system in the management of haemorrhoids.


METHODS
Unblinded randomised clinical trial.


METHODS
Teaching hospital, Spain.


METHODS
112 patients with third and fourth degree haemorrhoids.


METHODS
For 56 patients we used Ligasure system and a variant of Milligan and Morgan's technique. For the other 56, we used the traditional technique.


METHODS
Postoperative pain.


RESULTS
Operating times varied from 100 seconds for each haemorrhoidal cushion with Ligasure system to the 313 seconds by the traditional technique. The blood loss was not quantifiable in patients operated on with Ligasure. Pain was scored on a visual analogue scale. In the Ligasure group, the mean scores were 4.9 (immediate postoperative period) and 2.3 (24 hours later). In the other group, the scores were 7.8 and 6.9. These differences were significant.


CONCLUSIONS
Haemorrhoidectomy using Ligasure as a technical variant of Milligan and Morgan's technique has important advantages.
Thorbeck
Carlos Vara
CV
Surgery Department, Hospital Clínico Universitario Virgen de la Victoria, Malaga, Spain.
Montes
Manuel Felices
MF
D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005260:Female; D006484:Hemorrhoids / Q000601:surgery*; D006488:Hemostasis, Surgical / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010149:Postoperative Pain