Lateral internal sphincterotomy in the treatment of hemorrhoids. A clinical and manometric study.

Using a microtip pressure transducer, anorectal manometry was performed in 119 patients with symptomatic hemorrhoids. In 96 patients (80.7 percent), a high anal pressure (greater than 125 cm/H2O) was found. These patients were treated by lateral internal sphincterotomy, carried out under local anesthesia. In 23 patients (19.3 percent), a normal or low anal pressure (less than 125 cm/H2O) was found. These patients were treated by band ligation or hemorrhoidectomy. The clinical results after lateral internal sphincterotomy (success rate, 75.3 percent) suggest that this procedure is a good alternative in selected patients.