Introduction: The common removal of smooth muscle during stapled hemorrhoidectomy had raised concerns about its effects on postoperative anorectal function. The purpose of the study is to confirm the high frequency of the involvement of smooth muscle fibers in stapled hemorrhoidectomy and to determine its association with postoperative findings.
Methods: This retrospective study evaluated 241 cases of stapled hemorrhoidopexy treated from 2003 to 2006. Data include the most common postoperative complications such as bleeding, anal pain, and recurrence. Histological doughnuts were examined, and the presence of muscle fibers was evaluated.
Results: Early complications occurred in 27/241 patients (11.2%) including bleeding (14), anal pain (eight), incontinence (two), abscess (two), hematoma (one). Recurrence was observed in 11 cases (4.5%). Muscularis propria fibers were identified in 217 of 241 (90%) pathologic specimens. Five complications occurred in the group in which muscle fibers were not identified (4/24). The frequency of complications in the group with and without smooth muscle tissue in the resected specimens was 9.6% and 25%, respectively.
Conclusions: The presence of muscle fibers is not an occasional finding in the histological specimens, even if the presence of smooth muscle does not seems to influence the outcome of stapled hemorrhoidopexy. The idea of a simple mucosal resection needs to be revised.