title: Randomised controlled clinical trial of stapled haemorrhoidectomy vs conventional haemorrhoidectomy; a three and a half year follow up.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This article presents the results of a three and a half year follow up of patients recruited to a randomised controlled clinical trial comparing circumferential mucosectomy (stapled haemorrhoidectomy) vs conventional haemorrhoidectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients were assessed in an outpatient setting to examine a number of outcome measures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our data suggest that at the three and a half year follow up, there are no significant differences in outcome between the two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It will be important to review the long-term results of larger trials.
authors.affiliation: University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, Leicester Royal Infirmary, Leicester, UK.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Au-Yong
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rowsell
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Hemingway
mesh_terms: D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D004564:Electrocoagulation; D006484:Hemorrhoids / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence; D017792:Surgical Stapling / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome