HAL-RAR Versus Hemorrhoidectomy in the Treatment of Grade III-IV Hemorrhoids. Prospective, Randomized Trial

The classic surgical treatment of hemorrhoidal disease is the excisional hemorrhoidectomy, that consist in the surgical removal of one or more hemorrhoidal cushion, it is considered a safe, radical and definitive treatment; however, it is not exempt of complications and the postoperative pain is considerable. During the last two decades the concept of treatment has evolved to control hemorrhoidal symptoms with less invasive techniques, such as hemorrhoidal bands, arterial ligation Doppler guided hemorrhoidal and more recently, the association of anorectal repair or mucopexia for treating hemorrhoidal mucosal prolapse .

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The trial was subjected to evaluation and accepted by the Ethics Committee of the Fundació Unió Catalana d'Hospitals (Catalonian Union of Hospitals Foundation).

All patients with grade III and IV hemorrhoids that are eligible for surgical treatment with both methods who agree to participate in the study, will be included in the prospective randomized trial. All patients will be required to sign the specific informed consent.

Patients who are suitable for treatment with both techniques will be randomly assigned to the surgical technique.

Inclusion criteria:

1. Patients with symptomatic grade III or IV hemorrhoids (bleeding, pain, itching, soiling or prolapse) that are eligible for surgical treatment with both methods.

Exclusion criteria:

1. Associated recto-anal pathology such as acute thrombosed hemorrhoid, anal fissure, perianal fistula, perianal abscess, rectal prolapse, fecal incontinence or anal stenosis.
2. Prior anorectal surgery .
3. Systemic pathology that could alter the outcome of the surgery as coagulopathies, chronic pain with continued consumption of analgesics.
4. Age younger than 18 or older than 80 years, socio-pathology or inability to understand the study objectives.

All surgeries are performed on an outpatient basis under regional anesthesia and sedation for the same team of three surgeons. Preoperative preparation consists of a cleansing enema and no prophylactic antibiotics will be administered.

Both techniques will be performed in "Jack -Knife" position. The open hemorrhoidectomy may include one to three anal cushions and made according to the Milligan-Morgan technique, with resection of the anal cushion and the external hemorrhoidal epidermal component using electrocautery and ligation of the hemorrhoidal base with absorbable suture. Once completed hemorrhoidectomy a perianal block is performed with bupivacaine/epinephrine.

Hemorrhoidal artery ligation and rectoanal repair will be performed with the AMI minimally invasive surgery device HAL/RAR, and consist in the ligation of the terminal branches of the superior rectal artery with 2-0 absorbable polyglycolic acid suture after identifying the blood flow approximately 3 cm above the dentate line by using Doppler guidance. Subsequently, a running suture was added from the suture point to 5 mm above the dentate line to lift the prolapsing hemorroid. Other procedures will not be associated, if necessary, the patient will be excluded from the study .

The patient will be discharged if adequate pain control, oral tolerance and spontaneous diuresis is achieved, and after examination by the surgeon in order to discard immediate complications. The ambulatory treatment consists of an osmotic laxative (magnesium hydroxide ), oral analgesia with paracetamol/tramadol ( 325mg/37.5mg ) every 6 hours and Dexketoprofen (25 mg) every 8 hours, metamizol (575 mg) may be associated every 8 hours if pain. In case of persistent pain, the patient will be examined in emergency room.

EVALUATION OF RESULTS A power analysis was performed to assess the study sample size. Choosing a power of 0.8 and a confidence interval of 95% α-error of 0.05, we calculated that 20 patients were needed in each arm.

All patients will be evaluated with a validated questionnaire of 36 questions on quality of life ( SF-36 ) and specific questions about specific symptoms of hemorrhoidal disease (pain, itching , bleeding, soiling and hemorrhoidal prolapse reduction ). The questionnaire will be answered before the intervention, after six and twelve months of follow up.

All patients will complete a diary testing global postoperative pain every day, measured on a numerical scale from 0 to 10 during the first 15 days.

The patients will be assessed on the day of discharge and at 7, 14, and 30 postoperative days. The patients will be evaluated at 6, 12 and 24 postoperative months in the outpatient clinic.