Surgical treatment of hemorrhoids: a critical appraisal of the current options

Abstracts

Introduction

: Surgical treatment of hemorrhoids is still a dilemma. New techniques have been developed leading to a lower rate of postoperative pain; however, they are associated with a greater likelihood of recurrence.

Aim

: To review current indications as well as the results and complications of the main techniques currently used in the surgical treatment of hemorrhoidal disease.

Methods

: A systematic search of the published data on the options for treatment of hemorrhoids up to December 2012 was conducted using Medline/PubMed, Cochrane, and UpToDate.

Results

: Currently available surgical treatment options include procedure for prolapse and hemorrhoids (PPH), transanal hemorrhoidal dearterialization (THD), and conventional hemorrhoidectomy techniques. Excisional techniques showed similar results regarding pain, time to return to normal activities, and complication rates. PPH and THD were associated with less postoperative pain and lower complication rates; however, both had higher postoperative recurrence rates.

Conclusion

: Conventional surgical techniques yield better long-term results. Despite good results in the immediate postoperative period, PPH and THD have not shown consistent long-term favorable results.

Hemorrhoids; Hemorrhoidectomy; Surgical procedures; Pain; Recurrence; Bleeding and prolapsed hemorrhoids

Introdução

: O tratamento cirúrgico da doença hemorroidária é ainda um dilema. Novas técnicas foram desenvolvidas levando à taxa menor de dor pós-operatória, contudo com maior chance de recorrência.

Objetivo

: Revisar as indicações atuais de tratamento cirúrgico da doença hemorroidária, assim como os resultados e complicações das técnicas hoje utilizadas.

Método

: Foi realizada revisão sistemática das publicações sobre as opções de tratamento cirúrgico da doença hemorroidária, utilizando dados da Medline/Pubmed, Cochrane e UpToDate, até dezembro de 2012.

Resultados

: As opções de tratamento cirúrgico disponíveis são procedimento para correção de prolapso (PPH), dearterialização hemorroidária trans-anal (THD) e técnicas convencionais de hemorroidectomia. As técnicas excisionais têm resultados semelhantes quanto à dor, tempo de retorno às atividades e índice de complicações. O PPH e o THD apresentam menos dor pós-operatória, menor taxa de complicações, porém têm maior recidiva pós-operatória.

Conclusão

: As técnicas de cirurgia convencional têm melhores resultados a longo prazo. Apesar de bons resultados no período pós-operatório imediato, PPH e THD não apresentam resultados consistentes a longo prazo.

Hemorróidas; Hemorroidectomia; Procedimentos cirúrgicos; Dor; Recorrência; Sangramento e hemorróidas prolapsadas

INTRODUCTION

Hemorrhoidal disease is a common disorder, affecting 4% of the world population. The most widely accepted theory attributes this disorder to the prolapse of the anal cushions. Hemorrhoids are not varicose veins, but rather vascular cushions composed of fibroelastic tissue, muscle fibers, and vascular plexuses with arteriovenous anastomoses. Hemorrhoids may be internal, external or mixed. Internal hemorrhoids are classified by the degree of prolapse of the anal canal. External may be classified as acute (hemorrhoidal thrombosis) or chronic (anal skin tags).

Patients with hemorrhoids often seek treatment because of painless bleeding, prolapse, pain associated with hemorrhoidal thrombosis or itching. Conservative medical treatment, which is initially indicated in most cases, includes increased dietary fiber and fluid intake and use of topical agents. When there is no initial clinical improvement, more invasive treatment methods are warranted, such as rubber band ligation, infrared coagulation and sclerotherapy.

Surgical treatment is generally reserved for those patients who have failed to respond to conservative measures, about 5-10% of patients. Surgical treatment is the initial option in the management of symptomatic third- or fourth-degree hemorrhoids, or in patients with acute hemorrhoids that have not improved with other therapies²⁴.

Hemorrhoidectomy is considered the gold standard, and Milligan-Morgan's and Ferguson's procedures are the most widely used techniques throughout the world. Although these techniques have yielded excellent results and low complication rates, they are usually associated with postoperative pain^24,26.In order to reduce pain, new procedures have been introduced, including the procedure for prolapse and hemorrhoids (PPH) and Doppler-guided hemorrhoidal artery ligation.

This study aimed to review current indications as well as the results and complications of the main techniques currently used in the surgical treatment of hemorrhoidal disease.

METHODS

A systematic literature search was conducted using Medline/PubMed (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed) and Cochrane (http://www2.cochrane.org/reviews/). The search included, but was not limited to, review articles, meta-analyses, clinical trials, multicenter studies, guidelines, and guideline projects, among others, published in English, Portuguese, and Spanish. There were no restrictions on publication time range. The following keywords were used: hemorrhoids, hemorrhoidectomy, surgical procedures, pain, recurrence, bleeding and prolapsed hemorrhoids. UpToDate (http://www.uptodateonline.com/online/index/do), Topic 1382, version 10.0/2012, was also consulted.

Conventional surgical treatment

Conventional surgery basically involves the excision of the piles. In a meta-analysis of 18 prospective randomized trials comparing conventional surgery with outpatient procedures, including rubber band ligation, sclerotherapy, and infrared coagulation, surgery was found to be the most effective treatment modality. Open (Milligan-Morgan) and closed (Ferguson) hemorrhoidectomy are the most commonly used techniques¹³. Complications associated with these procedures include urinary retention, postoperative bleeding, pain, anal stenosis, and incontinence³.

Although hemorrhoidectomy can be performed using a common scalpel, scissors, mono or bipolar modes of electrosurgery, ultrasonic scalpel or laser, no clear advantage of one method over the other has been demonstrated¹⁵. In a recent Cochrane Database review, evaluating 12 studies with 1,142 patients, the use of bipolar energy was found to shorten the procedure time and produce less postoperative pain when compared to conventional surgery¹⁸.

Closed hemorrhoidectomy

Is the most commonly used surgical technique. An elliptical incision is made in the external hemorrhoidal tissue extending proximally through the dentate line to the upper limit of hemorrhoids. One should take care to make a narrow ellipse and remove only the redundant anoderm and hemorrhoidal tissue. The wound is closed with continuous absorbable suture. Usually three piles are excised. This technique is effective in 95% of cases, and surgical wound infection is extremely rare⁵.

Open hemorrhoidectomy

The open technique is globally widespread and preferred by many surgeons. A study comparing the open technique versus a modified closed (semi-open) hemorrhoidectomy showed that such modification was associated with faster healing and fewer postoperative complications²⁶. Generally, complications following conventional hemorrhoidectomy procedures include urinary retention (2-36%), bleeding (0.03-6%), anal stenosis (0-6%), infection (0.5-5%), and incontinence (2-12%)²⁶.

Lateral internal sphincterotomy with hemorrhoidectomy

Lateral internal sphincterotomy should not be routinely combined with hemorrhoidectomy, because this combination may lead to major complications, such as varying degrees of anal incontinence, without significantly reducing postoperative pain²⁴. In selected cases of patients with preoperative manometric findings of increased resting sphincter pressure, lateral internal sphincterotomy appears to be safe and not associated with a significant increase in postoperative morbidity⁶.

Hemorrhoidectomy using energy sources

Although the use of an electric scalpel may shorten the procedure time and reduce blood loss during surgery, it offers no advantage regarding pain, healing time, and early or late complications.¹⁰ Likewise, the use of an ultrasonic scalpel has also shown no advantage over the electric scalpel²⁸.

Open hemorrhoidectomy using a bipolar electrosurgical scalpel is associated with the need for fewer postoperative analgesics, faster wound healing and more rapid return to work when compared to the same procedure using an electric scalpel. However, it offers no advantage regarding postoperative pain, patient satisfaction, disease recurrence, or incidence of postoperative complications^14,16.

A recent meta-analysis evaluated the results of 10 studies comparing LigaSure(r) hemorrhoidectomy with the conventional technique. According to the authors, the use of LigaSure(r) showed statistically superior results in several parameters, including shorter operative time, less postoperative pain, less urinary retention, and more rapid return to normal activities. However, there is considerable heterogeneity in the studies analyzed. Moreover, there are no studies reporting long-term results of patients who were operated on using LigaSure(r)¹⁵. The use of laser, proposed in the 1990s, has failed to show advantages over conventional surgery, being rarely used today.²⁸

Non-excisional surgical techniques

PPH (stapled hemorrhoidopexy)

New technique using a stapler (stapled hemorrhoidectomy), which is also known as PPH. This technique uses a specific (circular) stapler to excise a circumferential ring of mucosa above the dentate line. The main characteristic of this procedure is the absence of external surgical wounds, which makes this surgery potentially less painful than the conventional procedure.

PPH is indicated for patients with second-degree hemorrhoids, with recurrent bleeding, who have failed to respond to non-surgical methods and in the management of third- or fourth-degree hemorrhoids, as long as they are not too bulky (i.e., they do not involve the entire anal circumference). The potential benefits of PPH include shorter operative time, less postoperative pain, less urinary retention, and more rapid return to normal activities. Despite these postoperative advantages, long-term results are insufficient, particularly regarding residual skin tags and recurrent prolapse³. Another issue is the large number of complications that have been reported with PPH, such as rectal perforation, pelvic sepsis, rectovaginal fistula, intra-abdominal bleeding, and Fournier's gangrene, which have required exploratory laparotomy and/or diversion^{2,4,17,20,23,31}. Some authors reported symptoms of severe pain and fecal urgency that persisted for up to 15 months after PPH, which was probably caused by purse-string suture placed too close to the dentate line and impingement of the staple line on the sensitive area of the anoderm. Placement of the purse-string suture high or low, with inaccurate depth, may lead to serious complications¹⁰.

PPH versus conventional technique

Three systematic reviews have concluded that stapled hemorrhoidopexy is less effective than the conventional procedure and is associated with a higher incidence of recurrence and prolapse. The studies have also shown a higher rate of further surgery and tenesmus when using the stapler. Conversely, hemorrhoidopexy with PPH is associated with less postoperative pain, shorter operative time, shorter hospital stay, and early return to normal activities^7,13,19.

A recent meta-analysis comparing hemorrhoidopexy with conventional surgery showed a higher recurrence rate among patients who had undergone PPH¹⁹. However, a 2007 review, which evaluated six randomized trials with 628 patients followed up for one year or more after hemorrhoid surgery, showed no differences between conventional hemorrhoidectomy and hemorrhoidopexy in terms of pain, itching and urgency, with greater recurrence associated with PPH¹⁹. Although hemorrhoidopexy is associated with a large number of complications, in general, the overall index is similar to that of conventional surgery. A meta-analysis involving 2,000 patients found a complication rate of 20% for PPH and 25% for conventional surgery²⁹.

Transanal hemorrhoidal dearterialization (THD)

Faced with the dilemma of surgical treatment of hemorrhoids, Morinaga et al.²² developed in 1995 a new therapeutic option known as THD. The procedure uses a kit with an anoscope that reaches the upper portion of the lower rectum, where a Doppler device locates the terminal branches of the hemorrhoidal arteries (6-7 cm from the anal margin) at the 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11 o'clock positions of the rectal circumference. These vessels are ligated in a cranial-caudal direction up to the lower limit of the Doppler signal, 2 cm from the anal margin, above the dentate line. The lower portion of the suture ligation is tied to the upper portion performing a mucopexy, with prolapse reduction. The procedure may be indicated for patients with bleeding second-, third- or fourth-degree hemorrhoids, with or without hemorrhoidal prolapse, who have failed to respond to non-surgical procedures.

A study evaluated 100 patients undergoing THD and reported no cases of death within 24 hours of surgery; transient hemorrhoidal thrombosis occurred in two (2%) cases and urinary retention in five (5%) patients. No patient had fecal incontinence. Ten (10%) patients complained of some degree of pain at defecation. Of these, only five required analgesics for more than three days, but none of them used medication for over 10 days. At 30-day follow-up, no patient complained of pain. At 3-month follow-up, all patients reported an improvement in symptoms. None had chronic pain. Three patients reported occasional bleeding after defecation, less than once per month, and one of these patients required further rubber band ligation. Eight patients experienced residual prolapse, and five of them required further mucopexy²².

A systematic review including 1,996 patients showed a recurrence rate of 9% for prolapse, 8% for bleeding, and 5% for pain at defecation. The authors reported a higher recurrence rate for patients with fourth-degree hemorrhoids, recommending that the technique should be used preferably for second- and third-degree hemorrhoids⁹.

THD for fourth-degree hemorrhoids was performed in 35 patients in another study. There were no intraoperative complications. Postoperative complications included hemorrhoidal thrombosis in three (8.6%) patients (one requiring surgery) and bleeding in two (5.7%) patients (one requiring surgical hemostasis). Five (14.3%) patients had urinary retention requiring catheterization. At a median follow-up of 10 months, symptoms resolved or greatly improved in 33 (94%) patients. Nine (25.7%) patients reported irregular bleeding, three (8.6%) mild anal pain, four (11.4%) mild anal burning, and four (11.4%) tenesmus. Ten patients (28.6%) experienced some degree of residual prolapse, significant only in two (5.7%), who required further surgery. No patient had stenosis or incontinence. The authors concluded that THD is a safe and effective treatment for fourth-degree hemorrhoids, and that persisting symptoms, when present, are mostly transient and occasional²¹.

THD versus pexy procedures without Doppler transducer

A single-blinded randomized clinical trial compared THD and hemorrhoidal artery ligation, without mucopexy¹¹. Procedures were performed in 35 patients without use of the Doppler transducer and in 38 with the Doppler transducer. The groups had similar preoperative characteristics and all patients had second- or third-degree hemorrhoids. The number of hemorrhoidal artery ligation procedures was the same in both groups. Postoperative pain was also similar in both groups. Time to return to normal activities was 9.8 days on average in the non-Doppler group and 7.7 days in the Doppler group, without statistical significance. In both groups, an improvement was observed with regard to preoperative complaints of pain, bleeding, prolapse, and problems with defecation. The non-Doppler group, however, showed greater improvement in hemorrhoidal prolapse. Patients in the non-Doppler group showed no complications. In the Doppler group, three patients had pain and persistent bleeding. After six months, patients in the non-Doppler group required no further procedures. In the Doppler group, two hemorrhoidectomies and three rubber band ligation procedures were performed. Regarding patient satisfaction, those undergoing the procedure without use of the Doppler transducer were more satisfied with the outcomes both at six weeks and six months after surgery. These data suggest that the benefits of THD may not be associated with the precise location of the vessels using the Doppler transducer. One hypothesis is that, due to several ligations, the pressure in the arterial microcirculation of the corpora cavernosa decreases, reducing the volume of hemorrhoids and relieving symptoms.

THD plus mucopexy

A recent study proposed the use of THD combined with rectoanal repair modified for third- and fourth-degree hemorrhoids. The technique recommends, after Doppler-guided hemorrhoidal artery ligation, performing mucopexy of the prolapsed hemorrhoidal tissue, restoring its anatomical and physiological position³⁰.Twenty patients were treated and evaluated three and 12 months after the procedure by rectal examination, anorectal manometry, and quality of life questionnaires. There was one case of postoperative bleeding, which was successfully managed with sterile anal tamponade. After three months, there were five cases of minor residual prolapse. Three of these patients reported painful defecation or itching. Regarding anorectal manometry assessment, basal anal pressure levels were lower than before the procedure, and a less significant decrease was observed in squeeze anal pressure levels. No patient complained of incontinence. Regarding satisfaction as measured with the quality of life questionnaires, 95% of patients were satisfied, even though some of them did not achieve complete reduction of the prolapse. The results remained unaltered at the 12-month follow-up. The authors concluded that this technique is a safe method of treatment of third- and fourth-degree hemorrhoids, with no major complications and with satisfactory results.³¹However, it was a preliminary study with a small number of patients and short follow-up time, thus making it difficult to assess long-term efficacy. Other studies are therefore needed to confirm the results.

THD versus stapled hemorrhoidopexy

A systematic review evaluated three randomized trials comparing THD to stapled hemorrhoidopexy in the management of hemorrhoidal disease. A total of 150 patients were investigated, 80 THD patients and 70 stapled hemorrhoidopexy patients. THD had success rates slightly higher than those reported for stapled hemorrhoidopexy, but without statistically significant difference. Both techniques were considered equally effective in the management of hemorrhoidal disease³². Both groups were similar in terms of operation time, postoperative complications, and recurrence of hemorrhoidal disease. THD was associated with significantly less postoperative pain. The authors concluded that the two procedures are equivalent in terms of symptom relief, recurrence rate, and treatment success.However, those were preliminary trials with small samples, and further studies are still required.

A prospective study compared PPH with THD for the treatment of second- and third-degree hemorrhoids. Patients with fourth-degree hemorrhoids and those with a large external component were excluded. Patients were randomly allocated to THD or PPH, which was decided blindly by the operating surgeon without being aware of the patient's preoperative symptoms. Patients were reassessed at eight weeks and eight months. After three years, patients were reassessed with a telephone interview. A total of 52 patients completed the study. THD patients returned to work earlier than PPH patients. There were no differences in the rate of postoperative complications or readmissions between groups. After three years, the recurrence rate was similar between groups, accounting for three (14%) THD patients and two (13%) PPH patients. No differences were observed as for symptom improvement and patient satisfaction between groups⁸.

Another multicenter study comparing THD with PPH for the treatment of third-degree hemorrhoids also showed similar results, concluding that the two techniques are equally effective. THD appears to have a better cost-effective ratio and lower pain compared with PPH. Disease recurrence did not differ between the two techniques¹¹.

CONCLUSIONS

The ideal surgical option for the treatment of hemorrhoids should be able to provide relief of symptoms, produce few complications and have a low recurrence rate. With conventional surgery, whatever the technique or material used, the risk of recurrence is lower, i.e., it is associated with a more definitive treatment. Conversely, patients are faced with more postoperative pain and longer healing time. Despite new surgical options, hemorrhoidectomy remains the treatment of choice and the gold standard for most cases. In this context, an important aspect to be considered by surgeons is the appropriate management of postoperative pain, with local anesthetic infiltration associated with oral analgesics, or even with use of topical muscle relaxants.

With the new techniques, PPH and THD, although less postoperative pain is observed, there is a greater likelihood of recurrence. High rates of late recurrence have dampened enthusiasm for use of PPH. To date, THD has proven superior to PPH, with a lower rate of (especially late) complications and earlier return to normal activities.

Nevertheless, the success of the technique depends on the careful selection of cases. Multicenter studies involving a larger number of patients and long-term results are warranted to more accurately assess this method.

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Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  Jan-Mar 2014

History

• Received
  30 May 2013
• Accepted
  28 Nov 2013