title: Randomized comparison between stapled hemorrhoidopexy and Ferguson hemorrhoidectomy for grade III hemorrhoids in Taiwan: a prospective study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Short-term and mid-term outcomes of stapled hemorrhoidopexy (SH) were compared with those for Ferguson hemorrhoidectomy (FH) for treating hemorrhoids.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with prolapsed hemorrhoids were randomized into two groups treated with SH (N = 300) and FH (N = 296) at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Chiayi in Taiwan between January 2002 and December 2004. The outcomes of the procedures were evaluated postoperatively (short-term, i.e., intra-/postoperative conditions, hospital stay, pain intensity scoring, time off work, and procedure-related morbidity) and over a follow-up period of minimum 18 months (mid-term, i.e., relapse of prolapse and/or bleeding, anal stricture, anal sepsis, and the acceptability of the procedures to the patients).
  
  
  RESULTS
  SH was superior to FH in operative time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative pain intensity, and return to work. Based on telephone interviews over the follow-up period, most patients who received SH appreciated the procedure better than those with FH.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study confirms that SH generates less postoperative suffering, less time off work, and more complete resolution of primary symptoms associated with hemorrhoids in the mid-term follow-up than FH.
authors.affiliation: Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, 6, Sec West, Chia-Pu Road, Putz, Chiayi, Taiwan. wshuang77@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Wen-Shih
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Chih-Chien
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Chin
authors.forename: Chong-Hung
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Yeh
authors.forename: Paul Y
authors.initials: PY
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Jeng-Yi
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006484:Hemorrhoids / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000209:etiology; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D019106:Postoperative Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018582:Sick Leave; D017792:Surgical Stapling / Q000009:adverse effects; D013536:Suture Techniques / Q000009:adverse effects; D013624:Taiwan; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome