title: Clinical experience of sutureless closed hemorrhoidectomy with LigaSure.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate the LigaSure vessel sealing system as an alternative to closed hemorrhoidectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-one patients with Grade 3 or 4 symptomatic hemorrhoids were prospectively randomly assigned to undergo hemorrhoidectomy with the LigaSure vessel sealing system or hemorrhoidectomy using the conventional Ferguson procedure. We determined the operation time, postoperative pain, amount of time taken off from work, and complications associated with both techniques.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean operative time for the LigaSure hemorrhoidectomy was 15 +/- 5.4 minutes and for the Ferguson operation, 21.2 +/- 8.2 minutes. The difference was significant (P < 0.01). There was also a significant decrease in pain measurements reported on postoperative Days 1 and 2 (P < 0.05) in the LigaSure group. The incidence of postoperative wound swelling and complications were similar between two groups. There was no difference in the period of time off from work between patient groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study confirms that LigaSure system can achieve a radical ablation of hemorrhoids, reduce operative time, and result in less postoperative pain on postoperative Days 1 and 2.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Hsin-Chu Hospital, Department of Health, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yuan-Chang
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Hue-Jean
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D006484:Hemorrhoids / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008026:Ligation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000517:prevention & control; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome