Hemorrhoidal disease is a common disorder requiring surgical intervention in approximately 10% of cases[1]. The overall prevalence is unknown because asymptomatic patients are less likely to seek medical help. Some sources estimate the incidence of symptomatic patients in the U.S is 4.4%, with patients between the ages of 45 to 65 years old being the most affected.[2][3][4]

Hemorrhoids are columns of vascular connective tissue within the anal submucosa aiding in maintaining continence and bulk to the anal canal. The pathophysiology of hemorrhoids is mostly unknown, but one theory states that hemorrhoids develop due to varicose veins in the anal canal; however, most healthcare providers reject this idea. Instead, the current thought is that hemorrhoids develop due to decay or deterioration of the vascular cushions.[5] The three primary hemorrhoidal columns are in the left lateral, right anterolateral, and right posterolateral positions of the anal canal and can be either internal or external based on their location relative to the dentate line.[3] Internal hemorrhoids can be further divided on a scale from I to IV based on the degree of prolapse, which also helps guide the treatment options[2]. Patients presenting with symptomatic internal hemorrhoids complain of painless, bright red bleeding, described as streaks of blood in the stool, anal itching, pain, worrisome grape-like tissue prolapse, or a combination of these symptoms. External hemorrhoids are asymptomatic in most patients except for thrombosed external hemorrhoids, which cause significant pain due to their innervation by somatic nerves.[4][2]

Hemorrhoids can have treatment with both medical and surgical interventions depending on their degree of prolapse and whether they are internal or external. The most effective treatment for recurrent, symptomatic grade III, or IV hemorrhoids, is surgical excision. Surgical procedures primarily include closed, also called Ferguson hemorrhoidectomy, which is the most common technique in the United States, or the open, also called Milligan-Morgan hemorrhoidectomy, used in the United Kingdom and Europe.[4][2]

Hemorrhoids are cushions of nonpathological vascular tissue in the anal canal. Microscopically, they have been described as sinusoids because they lack muscle, as do veins.[3] Several anatomic investigations have confirmed the existence of arteriovenous communications between vessels, which clarifies why hemorrhoidal bleeding is bright red and has the same pH as arterial blood.[6][5]

The anal canal is roughly 4 cm long in adults, with the dentate line marking its midpoint. Internal hemorrhoids develop above the dentate line and are painless due to their visceral innervation. They are covered by columnar epithelium and are classified based on the degree of prolapse. Prominent vessels and no prolapse characterize grade 1 hemorrhoids. Grade 2 hemorrhoids prolapse with Valsalva but spontaneously reduce. Grade 3 hemorrhoids also prolapse with Valsalva but need to be manually reduced. Grade 4 hemorrhoids are chronically prolapsed and cannot undergo manual reduction.[7] External hemorrhoids are covered in anoderm and are below the dentate line. They are sensitive to touch, stretch, and temperature due to somatic nerve innervation.[3]

Hemorrhoids can receive treatment with both medical and/or surgical interventions depending on their degree of prolapse and whether they are external or internal. One of the first and foremost conservative recommendations is a high-fiber diet. Garg recommends the addition of 4 to 5 teaspoonful of fiber that corresponds with the addition of 20 to 25 gm of supplemental fiber a day. For this method to be effective and not cause abdominal cramping, an adequate amount of water (500 ml) needs to be consumed at the same time with the fiber supplement for the water to be absorbed and result in soft stools. This intervention has proven to stop progression and help decrease the size of prolapse.[8]

Rubber band ligation and infrared coagulation are indicated for grade one and two hemorrhoids that fail medical management.[7] The reported number of rubber banding sessions is one, occasionally two, with a waiting period of four weeks between visits.[9] When comparing the two, long-term success favors rubber banding, whereas infrared coagulation is associated with less pain likely due to lack of mucopexy during the procedure. Overall, the failure rate of rubber band ligation is four times less than with infrared coagulation[2].

Operative hemorrhoidectomy is necessary for large third- and fourth-degree hemorrhoids in the following situations:

1. Failed nonoperative management
2. Advanced disease process unlikely to respond to conservative management
3. Mixed hemorrhoids with a bulging external component
4. Incarcerated internal hemorrhoids needing urgent intervention
5. Coagulopathic patients requiring management of hemorrhoidal bleeding

Relative contraindications include the following:

1. Patients unable to undergo general anesthesia due to medical comorbidities
2. Baseline fecal incontinence
3. Rectocele
4. Presence of inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn disease or ulcerative colitis
5. Portal hypertension with rectal varices
6. Uncontrolled bleeding disorder

The classic instrument used for an excisional hemorrhoidectomy is the scalpel with or without the aid of scissors for dissection. This approach is highly effective and of low cost.

Ligasure and Harmonic scalpels are modern-day energy devices that have slowly come onto the medical scene. The added expense can negatively impact economic efficiency in the current reimbursement milieu. Ligasure is a bipolar cautery device used for both tissue division and coagulation of blood vessels. The Harmonic scalpel uses a reciprocating blade to generate heat for tissue division and coagulation. The proposed benefits of using energy devices relative to their cost have not demonstrated significant clinical advantages.[3]

Monopolar electrocautery is a device capable of superior hemostasis compared with a scalpel. It allows excision of the hemorrhoidal complex without suture ligation, but at the expense of injuring adjacent tissues due to lateral thermal spread.

A Hill Ferguson retractor is inserted into the anal canal to visualize the entire length of the hemorrhoidal complex. Other equipment that is needed may include:

• DeBakey forcepsMayo scissorsLarge Kelly clampAbsorbable sutures