Assessment of patients’ quality of life after haemorrhoidectomy using the LigaSure device

INTRODUCTION Haemorrhoids are small anatomical structures within the anal canal that are involved in the proper functioning of the lower gastrointestinal tract. Factors favouring the development of haemorrhoidal disease are insufficient physical activity, prolonged sitting and hence a shortage of physical activity, as well as poor diet which lacks adequate amounts of fibre. The main symptom of this disease is bleeding with bright red blood just after defecation. Haemorrhoidal disease occurs when the ligamentous apparatus comes loose and the internal haemorrhoidal plexus translocates down, whereas haemorrhoids enlarge and move out of the anal canal. Haemorrhoidal disease treatment includes conservative, instrumental and surgical therapy. AIM To assess treatment and satisfaction in particular life domains after haemorrhoidectomy. MATERIAL AND METHODS The research was undertaken in the General, Thoracic and Vascular Surgery Clinic of the 10(th) Military Clinical Hospital with Polyclinic in Bydgoszcz among 50 patients treated due to haemorrhoids and operated on in the period 2007-2008. The study evaluated quality of patients' life after haemorrhoidectomy by Ferguson's method using a LigaSure appliance. RESULTS The study investigated whether patients perceived a difference before and after surgery. The research proved that patients can describe disease symptoms and know the risk factors for haemorrhoids. In the studied group patients are able to describe characteristic signs of haemorrhoidal disease and also indicate differences in everyday life before and after the surgery. They can also describe and classify the pain before and 1 year after the haemorrhoidectomy, which was statistically significantly lower already 3 months after the operation. CONCLUSIONS Conducted examinations showed that sick people in the precise way were able to determine manifestations and know risk factors of the prevalence of disease hemorrhoidal. Operated sick people indicated the difference in quality of the life both before, as well as after the undergone treatment. After the operation of the haemorrhoids with method of Ferguson using LigaSure apparatus operated sick persons could distinguish and classify pain before the treatment as well as in a year after which was statistically characteristically lower already after three months from treatment.