Ligasure Hemorrhoidectomy: Updates on Complications after an 18-Year Experience.

BACKGROUND Hemorrhoidal disease represents one of the most common anorectal disorders in the general population. Energy devices, such as LigaSureTM scalpel, have reshaped the concept of hemorrhoid surgery and in turn, have improved patient outcomes and simplified the work of surgeon. OBJECTIVE The study aims to evaluate the outcomes of LigaSureTM hemorrhoidectomy (LH) analyzing main post-operative complications rate, length of stay, operating time and time to return to work. METHODS In this monocentric descriptive study, from June 2001 to February 2019, 1454 consecutive patients, treated with LH for grade III and IV haemorrhoids, were analyzed. Complications were classified in early, late and long-term if they occurred within 1 month, between 1 and 2 months or after 2 months, respectively. RESULTS (90.2%) of patients were treated in day surgery regimen and mean operating time was 14.3 minutes. The post-operative pain decreased from 3.7 mean VAS on the 1st post-operative day to 0.1 mean VAS on 30th post-operative day. Early complications rate was 2.1%: urinary retention accounted for 1.8% of patients. 0.3% of patients experienced post-operative bleeding and only one required reoperation. Late complications rate was 5.8%: anal stenosis, incomplete healing and anal fissure were detected in 3.6%, 1.2% and 1% of patients, respectively. The Long term complications rate was 5.3 % : anal fistula, soiling, perianal abscess and recurrence were identified in 0.2%, 0.1%, 0.3% and 4.8% of patients, respectively. CONCLUSION LH is a safe and fast procedure with a proven minimal complications rate.