Ligasure Hemorrhoidectomy Versus Open Hemorrhoidectomy. A Randomized Clinical Trial on the Long-term Effect on Hemorrhoidal Symptoms

Background

Hemorrhoids is one of the oldest known medical conditions. Description of hemorrhoids is found as early as 2250 Before Christ (BC) in the code of king Hammurabi in Babylon. Even though first recorded treatment is thought to be found in the "Edwin Smith Papyrus" from 1700 BC as of today the treatment of this benign state is still debated. A wide range of prevalence rates of hemorrhoids have been stated in part because of the varying definition ,but the general consensus is that hemorrhoidal disease is a common anorectal disease affecting the quality of life of millions of people worldwide. Operation for hemorrhoid is one of the most common operations for benign disease in Denmark.

Hemorrhoids arise from the normal vascular structures in the anal canal also referred to as anal cushions or sinusoids as they do not contain muscular cells like arteries or veins. These cushions are typically arranged in three main columns or piles in the anal canal forming an important part of the intricate mechanism of the anal canal preventing incontinence.

Hemorrhoids is a pathologic term describing the symptomatic abnormal downward displacement and enlargement of the anal cushions. The term hemorrhoidal disease is used when the hemorrhoids cause symptoms.

Treatment of hemorrhoidal disease consists of conservative management with lifestyle and diet changes or local treatment, minor surgery and surgical treatment depending on the severity of disease and symptoms. The staging of internal hemorrhoids in four categories by the Goligher classification is the classification that generally forms the basis of the treatment in Denmark.