Prospective Randomised Study Of Urgent Haemorrhoidectomy Compared With Non-Operative Treatment In The Management Of Prolapsed Thrombosed Internal Haemorrhoids

Objective To compare the outcome of urgent haemorrhoidectomy with conservative treatment for prolapsed thrombosed internal haemorrhoids.Methods A prospective randomised study of 50 patients with prolapsed thrombosed internal haemorrhoids was carried out using clinical and ultrasonic outcome measures. Peri-operative bed occupancy and the presence of symptoms at 6 and 24 months were compared. Endoanal ultrasonic scanning was carried out to investigate anal sphincter integrity in those patients willing to be studied.Results The median length of hospital stay for the group treated conservatively; 2 nights (range 1-9 nights) was significantly shorter than for the group treated by urgent haemorrhoidectomy; 4 nights (range 1-12 nights, P < 0.01). There was no difference between treatment groups in the number of patients with symptoms at six or 24 months. Urgent haemorrhoidectomy was associated with a significantly higher incidence of endosonographically detected anal sphincter damage in 18 patients: 66% PS 0% (P = 0.009).Conclusion Conservative treatment for prolapsed thrombosed internal haemorrhoids is associated with shorter in patient stay and less anal sphincter damage compared with operative treatment.