Submucosal versus ligation excision haemorrhoidectomy: a comparison of anal sensation, anal sphincter manometry and postoperative pain and function.

Submucosal (SM) and ligation excision (LE) haemorrhoidectomy were compared to establish whether SM is a less painful procedure and whether anal sensation is better preserved by SM, and, if so, how this relates to postoperative function. There were 18 SM and 22 LE patients. Anal sphincter manometry and anal mucosal electrosensitivity were measured pre-operatively and 6 weeks after surgery. Postoperative pain was assessed by linear analogue scale. Anal sphincter pressures which were high pre-operatively fell to normal after surgery. Neither operation affected functional sphincter length or the recto-anal inhibitory reflex. Forty per cent of patients showed ultraslow waves on sphincter motility studies. These were associated with the highest pressures and in all but three cases disappeared after surgery. There were no differences in postoperative pain scores between the two techniques but there was a wide range from no pain to very severe pain in both groups. Submucosal haemorrhoidectomy preserved anal sensation better than ligation excision but this was not reflected in improved function. There was minor leakage and soiling in 50 per cent of patients from both groups and two SM and LE patients had initial faecal incontinence. All these symptoms had resolved by 6 weeks.