Ligasure vs. conventional diathermy in excisional hemorrhoidectomy: a prospective, randomized study.

PURPOSE

This study was designed to compare the surgical outcomes of hemorrhoidectomy performed by the Ligasure with that performed by the conventional diathermy.

METHODS

A total of 110 patients were randomized to Ligasure (55 patients) or diathermy (55 patients) hemorrhoidectomy. The operative time, postoperative pain scores, parenteral analgesic requirements in the first 24 hours, postoperative complications, and wound healing rates at six weeks postoperatively were documented.

RESULTS

The median operative time was 8 (range, 7-10) minutes for the Ligasure group and 18 (range, 15-21) minutes for the diathermy group (P < 0.001). Throughout the first postoperative week, the daily median pain score was lower in the Ligasure group than in the diathermy group (P < 0.001). The median number of analgesic ampoules during the first 24 hours postoperatively was lower in the Ligasure group (P < 0.001). There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of postoperative complications. At six weeks postoperatively, more patients in the Ligasure group had complete healing of wounds (P = 0).

CONCLUSION

Ligasure provides a superior alternative to conventional diathermy in hemorrhoidectomy by reducing the operative time, postoperative pain, parenteral analgesic requirements during the first 24 hours postoperatively, and the time to complete healing of wounds.