ORIGINAL ARTICLE   

Chirurgia 2019 June;32(3):118-21

DOI: 10.23736/S0394-9508.18.04812-X

Copyright © 2018 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Hemorrhoidectomy with Thunderbeat: clinical experience

Marco BRIZZOLARI ✉, Mario SORRENTINO

Department of General Surgery, Palmanova-Latisana Hospital (AAS 2 “Bassa Friulana-Isontina”), Jalmicco, Udine, Italy

BACKGROUND: Hemorrhoidectomy ensures the lowest long-term risk of recurrence. The use of advanced-energy devices results in an improvement in various intra- and postoperative outcomes. This study investigated the results of hemorrhoidectomy performed using Thunderbeat, a device which fully integrates ultrasonic and advanced bipolar energies to simultaneously seal and cut tissue.
METHODS: All hemorrhoidectomies carried out with Thunderbeat in a single center were evaluated retrospectively. Intraoperative parameters (operative time and bleeding) and postoperative parameters (complications, pain level and healing time) were investigated.
RESULTS: A total of 51 patients with grade 3 or 4 hemorrhoids were included. The mean operative time was 19.7 minutes (±5.22). Estimated blood loss was <10 mL in 47 cases (92.2%). Early complications consisted of 1 case (2%) of bleeding and 2 cases (3.9%) of urinary retention. The mean postoperative pain score after 1 day, 1 week and 1 month was 4.3 (±0.98), 2.7 (±1.04) and 0.5 (±0.85). The mean postoperative hospitalisation period was 1.2 days (±0.87). Surgical wounds had healed within one month in 46 patients (90.2%). The mean follow-up was 12.4 months (±6.4). No cases of incontinence or stenosis occurred.
CONCLUSIONS: This initial experience of hemorrhoidectomy using Thunderbeat provided encouraging intra- and postoperative results in terms of safety and efficacy.

KEY WORDS: Hemorrhoidectomy - Surgery - Rectal prolapse