RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL OF LATERAL INTERNAL SPHINCTEROTOMY WITH HEMORRHOIDECTOMY

A prospective trial was conducted to compare haemorrhoidectomy alone ( control, group 1) with haemorrhoidectomy plus lateral internal sphinct erotomy (group 2) for prolapsed piles, Some 33 patients (18 men, 15 wo men) of mean(s.e.m.) age 40(2.3) years were randomized, 16 to group 1 and 17 to group 2, There were no significant differences in postoperat ive pain scores, Mean resting and maximum anal squeeze pressures, stud ied 6 weeks and 3 months after operation, were generally lower in grou p 2, but were not significantly different, Two patients in group 2 wer e distressed by incontinence to liquid faeces which persisted in one a fter 1 year, There were no other complications in either group after a mean(s.e.m.) follow-up of 11(0.4)months. The addition of lateral inte rnal sphincterotomy to routine haemorrhoidectomy is unnecessary and ca rries the added risk of incontinence.