LIGASURE COMPARED WITH BIPOLAR ELECTRO-CAUTERY HEMORRHOIDECTOMY: A PROSPECTIVE RANDOMIZED STUDY

Abstract

Surgical excision using Ligasure is a modern technique used for ablation of symptomatic third degree and all fourth-degree hemorrhoids. Compared with electrocautery, Ligasure causes minimal lateral thermal injury during tissue dissection. The resulting mucosal defect is then left open. The aim of this work was to evaluate the value of using Ligasure in reducing incidence of postoperative complications following hemorrhoidectomy.
Patients & Methods: This is a prospective randomized study done in general surgery department Zagazig University hospital during the period from July 2009 to December 2010. Patients underwent surgical excision of complex grade III or grade IV hemorrhoids. They were divided into two groups: Ligasure hemorrhoidectomy group (A) where ligasure was used only and bipolar electrocautery hemorrhoidectomy group (B). Pain levels scoring and postoperative complications were analyzed.
Results: Postoperative pain in Group (A) was significantly less with less analgesic requirement. Postoperative urine retention was significantly less in Group (A). There was no significant difference between both groups regarding other postoperative complications.
Conclusion: This study demonstrates significantly reduced postoperative pain after Ligasure hemorrhoidectomy compared with bipolar electrocautery. So Ligasure is better than bipolar electrocautery