RANDOMIZED CLINICAL TRIAL OF STAPLED HEMORRHOIDOPEXY VERSUS FERGUSON HEMORRHOIDECTOMY

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare stapled hemorrhoidopexy (SH) with that of the Ferguson hemorrhoidectomy (FH) for the surgical treatment of hemorrhoidal disease. Material and Methods: Fifthy patients with grade III or IV haemorrhoids were randomized to undergo either the SH (n=25) or FH (n=25). Operative time, length of hospital stay, postoperative pain, early and late complications, time to return to normal daily activities ( both professional and social) and recurrence were evaluated. Follow up was one year. Results: Operative time, postoperative pain, the time to return to normal activities and recurrence were significantly less for patients in SH group. In the FH group early complications were more frequent but not statistically significant and there were no statistically significant differences regarding the frequency of late complications. Conclusion: Provided further clinical trials confirm these findings, SH may become a future gold standard.