Inpatient treatment of prolapsing piles: cryosurgery versus Milligan-Morgan haemorrhoidectomy.

A comparative retrospective study, based on clinical assessment and questionnaire analysis, of 97 patients treated by cryosurgical haemorrhoidectomy and 99 patients treated by Milligan-Morgan haemorrhoidectomy, at 4-year average follow-up, has shown that 70 per cent of patients in each group derived complete and lasting relief from their symptoms. Two patients in each group required further treatment. There was no significant difference between the numbers who remembered severe, moderate or mild pain, or in its duration, although fewer cryosurgical patients required opiates. Postoperative discharge ceased in 70 per cent of patients within 2 weeks. When skin tags remained, they were usually inconsequential. Anal stenosis following cryohaemorrhoidectomy did not occur, and has not been reported. Cryohaemorrhoidectomy gave results equal to Milligan-Morgan haemorrhoidectomy in patients with prolapsing piles, with fewer complications, and has the economic advantages of less time in hospital (P less than 0.01) and less time off work (P less than 0.01).