OBJECTIVETo investigate and compare the clinical effects of procedure for prolapse and hemorrhoids (PPH) and Ligasure technique (LT) for the treatment of severe hemorrhoids.

METHODSPatients with prolapsed hemorrhoids were randomly divided into two groups treated with PPH (n=44) and LT (n=42). The outcomes were evaluated postoperatively (i.e., operation time, length of hospital stay, pain intensity scoring, relapse of prolapse, bleeding and cost).

RESULTS(1)The average operating time for patients treated by LT was (12.0+/- 4.1) min, while for those by PPH was(19.0+/- 6.4)min (P < 0.05). (2)The average scores of visual analogue scale (VAS) for PPH and LT patients were 3.1 points (2 approximately 6) and 5.4 points (3~8) respectively(P < 0.05). (3)The average costs for LT group and PPH group were (4838+/- 301) yuan and (7796+/- 492) yuan respectively (P < 0.05). (4)In PPH group, 4 patients were complicated with hemorrhage (over 50 ml) and 1 patients with relapse, while there were no complications occurred in LT group. (5)Six months after operation, the self scores of postoperative pain,defecation and total satisfaction were 95.0%, 100% and 100% in PPH group, and 87.2%, 97.4% and 97.4% in LT group respectively.

CONCLUSIONSCompared with PPH, LT has the advantages of shorter operation time, less hemorrhage and expense, but more postoperative pain. Both LT and PPH are effective procedures for severe hemorrhoids.