Haemorrhoids : Aspects of Symptoms and Results after Surgery

One hundred haemorrhoid patients were compared with 300 matched control persons. Haemorrhoid symptoms and bowel symptoms were studied. Most common symptom of the patients was bleeding (44%), followed by prolapse (24%), hygiene problem (14%), pain (12%) and itching (5%). Bowel symptoms, as bloating and evacuation difficulties, possibly related to IBS, were frequent among the patients. 556 patients were operated upon with Milligan-Morgan haemorrhoidectomy. 418 (81%) answered a questionnaire on results, and on disturbances in anal continence. Totally140 (33%) reported recurrence, and 139 (33%) patients reported anal incontinence. Forty of the 139 patients associated this to the surgical procedure. Female gender was associated to increased risk of incontinence. The 40 patients who reported incontinence, were invited to undergo ano-rectal manometry, saline infusion test, endo-anal ultrasound, proctoscopy and clinical examination. Altogether 19 patients approved to participate. Matched control subjects and 15 persons previously operated for haemorrhoids, but without symptoms of incontinence, served as two reference groups. Incontinence score and saline infusion test showed significantly poorer continence in the patient group. Endo-anal ultrasound showed injury to the external sphincter in 20% of the patients. Anal pressure was slightly lower in the patient group, but the difference was not significant. Totally 225 patients were randomised to Milligan-Morgan or Ferguson haemorrhoidectomy. Primary aim was to study changes in anal continence. Other aims were to study postoperative pain, wound healing, complications, patient satisfaction and recurrence and changes in bowel function. Patients in the Ferguson group reported, slightly quicker wound healing (P=0.06). Postoperative pain was equal, as was rate of complications. After one year the Ferguson group reported lower incontinence score, and more satisfied patients. Recurrence rate was equal, 15-17%. Most bowel symptoms were reduced one year after surgery. In conclusion, functional bowel symptoms are common in haemorrhoid patients. Haemorrhoidectomy is associated with risk for incontinence in 5-10% of patients and females are at greater risk. A proportion of the patients who claim postoperative incontinence have physiological signs of sphincter incompetence, and external sphincter injuries are observed in those patients. Ferguson haemorrhoidectomy results in better anal continence and more satisfied patients