title: Comparison of a Hemorrhoidectomy With Ultrasonic Scalpel Versus a Conventional Hemorrhoidectomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A variety of instruments, including circular staplers, ultrasonic scalpels, lasers, and bipolar electrothermal devices, are currently used when performing a hemorrhoidectomy. This study compared outcomes between hemorrhoidectomies performed with an ultrasonic scalpel and conventional methods.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was a randomized prospective review of data available between May 2013 and December 2013, involving 50 patients who had undergone a hemorrhoidectomy for grade III or IV internal hemorrhoids. The hemorrhoidal pedicle was coagulated with an ultrasonic device in the ultrasonic scalpel group (n = 25) and sutured with 3-0 vicryl material after excision in the conventional method group (n = 25).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patients' demographics, clinical characteristics, and lengths of hospital stay were similar in both groups. The mean ages of the conventional and the ultrasonic scalpel groups were, respectively, 20.8 ± 1.6 and 22.4 ± 5.0 years (P = 0.240). In comparison with the conventional method group, the ultrasonic scalpel group had a shorter operation time (P < 0.005), less postoperative pain on the visual analogue scale score (for example, P = 0.211 on postoperative day 1), and less postoperative bleeding (P = 0.034). No significant differences in postoperative complications were observed between the 2 groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A hemorrhoidectomy using an ultrasonic scalpel is an effective and safe procedure. The ultrasonic scalpel reduces the operation time, the postoperative blood loss, and the postoperative pain. Long-term follow-up with larger-scale studies is required to evaluate normal activity after a hemorrhoidectomy performed with an ultrasonic scalpel.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Armed Forces Daejeon Hospital, Daejeon, Korea.
authors.forename: Dae Ro
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Armed Forces Daejeon Hospital, Daejeon, Korea.
authors.forename: Dae Hyun
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Armed Forces Daejeon Hospital, Daejeon, Korea.
authors.forename: Joo Hyun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Armed Forces Daejeon Hospital, Daejeon, Korea.
authors.forename: Jae Hwan
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Moon
keywords: Conventional method; Hemorrhoidectomy; Ultrasonic scalpel