Open versus closed haemorrhoidectomy.

OBJECTIVE: To compare post operative complications, rates of wound healing, and cost effectiveness between the closed and open methods of haemorrhoidectomy. DESIGN: Prospective. SETTING: Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), Jos and Evangel Hospital, Jos. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Consecutive patients who presented with second and third degree haemorrhoids were randomised into an open group A and a closed group B. Time taken for wound to heal, the postoperative complications and cost of management in each group were assessed. Each patient was followed up for at least three months. RESULTS: There were 59 males and 20 females, distributed between group A (n=39) and B (n=40). The average postoperative hospital stay was 5 days in group A and 3 days in group A. There were no differences in the complication rate between the two groups. Post operative retention of urine was the commonest complication and occurred in 12 patients: 7 in group A and 5 group B. This was followed by reactionary haemorrhage in 6. All of which occurred in group A. There were 8 patients with skin tags: 5 in group A and 3 in group B. Other complications included secondary haemorrhage (2), wound dehiscence (4) and wound infection (2), all in group B. The average wound healing time was significantly shorter in group B (2.8 vs 5.0 weeks). The financial difference between the two treatment groups was not statistically significant (N4,593.00 and N4,598.00, or 34.02 dollars and 34.06 dollars in groups A and B, respectively). CONCLUSION: The cost per patient and morbidity did not show any statistically significant differences between the open and closed methods of haemorrhoidectomy. However, healing was significantly faster in group B.