title: [Ligasure vs conventional diathermy in excisional haemorrhoidectomy: a retrospective study of a single center].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hemorrhoids are a prolapse of vasculopathic structures that cushion the anal canal and haemorrhoidectomy is the most effective treatment for grades III and IV In this retrospective study we compare the outcome after haemorrhoidectomy with Ligasure or with conventional diathermy.
  
  
  METHODS
  From June 2005 to March 2009 we analyzed 75 patients affected by hemorrhoids (grades III and IV) who underwent haemorrhoidectomy in the University Hospital Arnau de Vilanova in Lleida. We evaluated the technique, the age and the sex, and compared the post-operative hospital stay, the post-operative pain and the complications with each of the techniques.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We used Ligasure technique in 49 patients (65%) and conventional diathermy technique in 26 (35%). The mean age was 50.3 years. There was no significant difference in both postoperative length ofstay, with an average of2.13 days (P = 0.60), and postoperative pain in the first 15 days (P = 0.275). On the contrary, we found a significant difference in the rate of postoperative complications (P = 0.032) and in the post-surgical pain at one month (P = 0.03).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In our experience the Ligasure haemorrhoidectomy has shown to have fewer complications and post-operative pain when compared with conventional diathermy haemorrhoidectomy.
authors: Unidad de Cirugía Colorectal, Servicio de Cirugía General, Hospital Universitario Aranu de Vilanova de Lleida, HUAV, Lleida-España. davide.papis@gmail.com
authors: Davide
authors: D
authors: Papis
authors: Unidad de Cirugia General, Clinica Universitaria Reina Fabiola, Cordoba-Argentina.
authors: Matías
authors: M
authors: Parodi
authors: Unidad de Cirugía Colorectal, Servicio de Cirugía General, Hospital Universitario Aranu de Vilanova de Lleida, HUAV, Lleida-España.
authors: Fernando
authors: F
authors: Herrerías
authors: Unidad de Cirugía Colorectal, Servicio de Cirugía General, Hospital Universitario Aranu de Vilanova de Lleida, HUAV, Lleida-España.
authors: Ana
authors: A
authors: Sánchez
authors: Unidad de Cirugía Colorectal, Servicio de Cirugía General, Hospital Universitario Aranu de Vilanova de Lleida, HUAV, Lleida-España.
authors: Luis
authors: L
authors: Gómez
authors: Unidad de Cirugía Colorectal, Servicio de Cirugía General, Hospital Universitario Aranu de Vilanova de Lleida, HUAV, Lleida-España.
authors: José Enrique
authors: JE
authors: Sierra
authors: Unidad de Cirugía Colorectal, Servicio de Cirugía General, Hospital Universitario Aranu de Vilanova de Lleida, HUAV, Lleida-España.
authors: Antonio
authors: A
authors: Fermiñán
authors: Unidad de Cirugía Colorectal, Servicio de Cirugía General, Hospital Universitario Aranu de Vilanova de Lleida, HUAV, Lleida-España.
authors: Jorge Juan
authors: JJ
authors: Olsina
mesh_terms: D003972:Diathermy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006484:Hemorrhoids / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008026:Ligation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010149:Postoperative Pain; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome