ABSTRACT
Background: Advanced hemorrhoidal disease often necessitates surgical intervention for symptom relief and resolution of complications. However, the optimal number of hemorrhoids to excise during surgery remains debated, particularly regarding postoperative outcomes.
Aim: This study aimed to compare postoperative outcomes between patients undergoing excision of two versus three hemorrhoids in advanced hemorrhoidal disease.
Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on a cohort of 120 patients who underwent surgical excision for advanced hemorrhoidal disease between January 2023 to January 2024. Patients were divided into two groups based on the number of hemorrhoids excised during surgery: Group A (excision of two hemorrhoids) and Group B (excision of three hemorrhoids). Postoperative outcomes, including pain scores, complication rates, and recurrence rates, were compared between the two groups.
Results: The study comprised 60 patients in each group, with similar baseline characteristics. In the postoperative period, patients in Group A demonstrated significantly lower pain scores compared to those in Group B (mean pain score: Group A = 3.2, Group B = 4.5, p < 0.05). Complication rates were comparable between the two groups, with no statistically significant difference observed (p = 0.321). However, the recurrence rate was notably lower in Group A compared to Group B (recurrence rate: Group A = 15%, Group B = 25%, p < 0.05).
Conclusion: Excision of two hemorrhoids in patients with advanced hemorrhoidal disease is associated with lower postoperative pain scores and a reduced risk of recurrence compared to excision of three hemorrhoids. These findings suggest that excising two hemorrhoids may offer favorable postoperative outcomes in this patient population.
Keywords: Hemorrhoidal disease, hemorrhoidectomy, postoperative outcomes, recurrence, pain scores