Postoperative discomfort and pain in the management of hemorrhoidal disease: laser hemorrhoidoplasty, a minimal invasive treatment of symptomatic hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoidal disease (HD) treatment still remains controversial. In fact, despite many surgical progresses, postoperative pain, and discomfort remain the major weaknesses. Laser hemorrhoidoplasty (LHP) is a minimal invasive procedure for HD treatment determining the shrinkage of the hemorrhoidal piles by diode laser. The aim of the current study is to analyze the feasibility and efficacy of LHP in patients with II–III degrees hemorrhoids. Consecutive patients with II–III degree hemorrhoids were enrolled in the study and underwent an LHP treatment using a 1470-nm diode laser. Operative time, postoperative pain and complications, resolution of symptoms, and length of return to daily activity were prospectively evaluated. Recurrence of prolapsed hemorrhoid or symptoms at a minimum follow-up of 6 months was evaluated. Fifty patients (28 males and 22 females) were enrolled in the study. No significant intraoperative complications occurred. Postoperative pain score (at 12, 18, and 24 h postoperatively), evaluated through visual analogue scale, was extremely low (mean value 2). No postoperative spontaneous bleeding occurred. The 100% of our population came back to daily activity 2 days after surgery. At a mean follow-up period of 8.6 months, we reported a recurrence rate of 0%. LHP demonstrated a large efficacy in selected patients. The greatest strength points were low postoperative pain, the presence of slightly significant peri-anal wounds, no special anal hygienic measures and low surgical time. Thus, resulting in a negligible postoperative discomfort, LHP could be considered a painless and minimal invasive technique in the treatment of HD.