Ambulatory carbon dioxide laser haemorrhoidectomy without disability.

A small series of 20 patients treated this way is presented. These patients elected for this method for 2 main reasons, namely, financial constraint and a desire to be discharged home on the same day. Eighteen patients had third degree and two had fourth degree thrombosed haemorrhoids. The operations were performed under sedation in eight and under general anaesthesia in twelve patients. The patients were placed in the lithotomy position. The anal area was infiltrated with 10 mls of 2% lignocaine with 10 mls of 2% lignocaine in 1:200,000 epinephrine. The duration of the operation was betWeen 20 and 40 minutes.