HAEMORRHOIDECTOMY
GENERAL INFORMATION
Haemorrhoids are congested, swollen veins that are
called internal haemorrhoids when they are just
inside the anus. They are called external
haemorrhoids when they are at the anal opening.
There are many causes of haemorrhoids, including the
following: chronic constipation, a job that requires
a lot of sitting, pregnancy, liver disease, loss of
muscle strength in the anal area with advancing age
and obesity.
COMMON SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
There can be a number of symptoms, sometimes more
than one at the same time.
- Protrusion of the haemorrhoids on the outside.
- Pain or itching in and around the anus
- Blood in the stool.
- External haemorrhoids that are clotted and very
painful.
DIAGNOSIS
- Usually the diagnosis can be made by taking a
detailed history and doing a thorough physical
examination.
- A painful, clotted haemorrhoid on the outside of
the anus is easy to see.
- Anoscopy: This examination is done with a hollow
instrument as long and as thick as your finger. It
is lubricated and inserted into the anus gently so
that the entire area can be inspected.
PRE-OPERATIVE PREPARATION
- Do not eat or drink anything for 6 hours before
the operation.
- Your doctor will explain to you whether he wants
you to have any laxatives or enemas before admission
to hospital. He may prefer to have these given to
you after you have been admitted.
- Make sure your doctor knows what medicines you
take, especially medicines which may affect blood
clotting
OPERATION
- The operation generally lasts between half an hour
and one hour.
- You will require a general anaesthetic.
- A sigmoidoscopy is generally done with a
haemorrhoid operation. This is done to examine the
lower part of the large intestine above the level of
the anal canal. Your doctor will discuss this with
you.
POST OPERATIVE CARE
- Your doctor will discuss with you how long you
need to stay in hospital.
- You may have an anal plug in position which needs
to be removed.
- At times the pain may be significant but your
doctor will discuss with you how to manage this.
- In addition to the pain there is always some
post-operative bleeding. This is normal.
COMPLICATIONS
1. Complications are not common after a
haemorrhoidectomy, but you must be aware of the
following possible complications.
2. Occasionally a post operative bleed will occur.
Your doctor will decide whether you need to be taken
back to the operating theatre to manage this
bleeding.
3. A stricture or narrowing of the anus may develop
occasionally after healing has taken place.
4. A temporary leak of flatus or faeces from the
anus frequently persists for a few days after the
operation. In very rare instances this problem may
persist for a long time or even permanently.
5. It is possible for further haemorrhoids to
develop after a haemorrhoid operation.
6. Systemic complications like deep vein thrombosis
and pulmonary embolism are rare but possible after
any operation or anaesthetic.
pil-haemorrhoidectomy.doc/ver2/14 January 2002 |
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