External Hemorrhoid Surgery - Hemorrhoidectomy

The how, why, options and side effects.

The only surgical option available for external hemorrhoids is full hemorrhoidectomy - there are quite a few excellent reasons to avoid a hemorrhoidectomy surgery ( as discussed below ).  The main exception being if a blood clot has formed inside the hemorrhoid in question. If there is no thrombosis, you may be much better off trying to deal with your external hemorrhoids at home.

However, if your external hemorrhoid has developed a thrombosis, knowing all of your options and what to expect, may be very beneficial.

Also, if you have internal hemorrhoids or hemorrhoids that have prolapsed, then this hemorrhoidectomy page is more suited to what you after.

Types of hemorrhoidectomy for external hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoidectomy is a surgical procedure that can be done with traditional scalpels, a device that conducts electricity like a cautery pencil, or the hemorrhoidectomy can be done by lasers.

Types of anesthesia that can be used during a hemorrhoidectomy for external hemorrhoids removal

Either general or spinal anesthesia is used, so feel free to ask for general if you'd really like to sleep through the whole thing, or spinal if you'd feel better staying awake.

What happens in a hemorrhoidectomy for external hemroids?  How do they do a hemorrhoidectomy for external hemorrhoids?

No matter what instrument or anesthesia option is used, several incisions are made around the hemorrhoid in question, the major blood vessel inside is tied off to prevent excessive bleeding, and the excess tissue is excised.

The surgical area may be sewn shut or left open. Either way, medicated gauze covers the resulting wound.

While there is a lot of hype about using lasers instead of more traditional hemorrhoidectomy methods, there have been no studies showing lasers to have a better success rate or quicker healing than any other tool, and lasers have a chance of causing deep tissue burns unless the doctor is really skilled in their use. Therefore, don't believe anyone's hype of one type of hemorrhoidectomy being better than another.

Side effects and complications of hemorrhoidectomy when used on external hemorrhoids.

The most common side effects of a full hemorrhoidectomy are bleeding, temporary inability to urinate or pass stools and or a small infection. This surgery is usually done on an outpatient basis, which means you go home the same day, but they will keep you until you successfully urinate. Twenty percent of hemorrhoidectomy patients can't urinate for a bit after the surgery due to swelling of surrounding tissues or pelvic muscle spasm, and the doctor will want to make sure that you're all right in this regard before you get to go home. Full recovery generally takes about two to three weeks, during which time you should take the painkillers and antibiotics you'll be prescribed, take sitz-baths in warm, plain water and avoid heavy lifting or straining. You should also get plenty of fiber and water in your diet, as constipation after surgery would be even more painful than constipation before.

Rare side effects of a hemorrhoidectomy can occur immediately after surgery or much later. Early side effects of hemorrhoidectomy include severe bleeding from the anal canal, collection of blood in the surgical area, inability to control the bowel or bladder, serious infection of the surgical area, and the backup and collection of fecal matter in the anal canal due to inability to defecate. Later serious side effects of hemorrhoidectomy include the narrowing of the anal canal, rectal prolapse, where the rectal lining slips out of the anal opening, the formation of an abnormal passage between the anorectal canal and another abdominal area, and, in five percent of post surgical patients, the external hemorrhoids come back (not the same ones of course).

Hemorrhoidectomy In Conclusion

As you can see, a full hemorrhoidectomy is not something to take lightly and it carries many potential risks. However, if you need one due to a thrombosed external hemorrhoid, be sure to check your surgeon's credentials with the tools he or she uses, and follow all of his or her recommendations to the letter. Doing so will minimize the side effects and allow you to move on with your life, hemorrhoid free.

Research and main write by Loni L. Ice, editing by D. S. Urquhart.

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