The outcome of postoperative hemorrhaging following a hemorrhoidectomy

Surg Today. 2009;39(10):866-9. doi: 10.1007/s00595-009-3971-3. Epub 2009 Sep 27.

Abstract

Purpose: Postoperative hemorrhage (PH) is rare, but it is widely recognized as a postoperative complication of a hemorrhoidectomy. The assessment of this complication may provide information which can be used to improve the clinical outcome of a patient who has undergone a hemorrhoidectomy.

Methods: Between January 2006 and December 2007, a total of 1294 patients with symptomatic hemorrhoids underwent a hemorrhoidectomy at our hospital. The patient records were retrospectively analyzed.

Results: In this study, 23 patients had suffered from PH and had undergone a second operation (1.7%). The bleeding points were located as follows: 14 anterior,7 right laterally, 8 left laterally, and 2 posteriorly. Of these patients with early hemorrhage, 1 case was at the anterior, 1 was left lateral, and 2 were posterior. A significant correlation was observed between the period and the location of postoperative hemorrhage (P = 0.0023). From one to four piles were excised (1 in 264 patients, 2 in 240 patients, 3 in 702 patients, 4 in 88 patients). A significant correlation was also observed between the number of piles and the occurrence of PH (P = 0.032).

Conclusions: At the posterior wall, a late period hemorrhage is less likely to be found than an early period hemorrhage. It was found that the more piles that were excised, the greater the occurrence of PH.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Child
  • Female
  • Hemorrhoids / surgery*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Postoperative Hemorrhage / prevention & control
  • Postoperative Hemorrhage / surgery
  • Reoperation
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Young Adult