The Necessity of Preoperative Bowel Preparation

Pain, Postoperative, Analgesia

Hemorrhoidectomy is an common treatment for high-grade hemorrhoids. The necessity of preoperative bowel preparation (PBP) in hemorrhoidectomy is inconclusive. This study aims to evaluate the benefit and safety of PBP in hemorrhoidectomy.

Hemorrhoidectomy is an effective treatment for high-grade hemorrhoids and is recommended in patients with grade III-IV hemorrhoids. Common hemorrhoidectomy approaches include stapled hemorrhoidopexy and conventional procedures, such as Ferguson hemorrhoidectomy and Milligan-Morgan hemorrhoidectomy. Conventional techniques produce a lower recurrence rate, whereas stapled hemorrhoidopexy is associated with fewer postoperative complications and shorter recovery time. Common complications after hemorrhoidectomy include urinary retention, pain, and delayed hemorrhage. Surgical site infection is a rare complication after hemorrhoid excision. Traditional opinions held that preoperative bowel preparation (PBP) reduces fecal mass and bacterial count in the bowel lumen, minimizing the risk of infective and anastomotic complications. However, a study that evaluated intramucosal bacterial count demonstrated that PBP does not reduce the colon bacterial count. A randomized control trial (RCT) evaluating the effect of PBP before colorectal surgery suggested that the procedure can be omitted. However, another RCT with 79 participants revealed that bowel preparation before anorectal surgery can result in less pain during the first postoperative defecation. A meta-analysis with 36 studies concluded that PBP before elective colorectal surgery does not affect the postoperative complication rate. On the contrary, the necessity of PBP before anorectal surgeries remains unreported. The choice of whether PBP has to be performed is often the surgeon's preference. It may be challenging for physicians to determine the appropriate decision of PBP before hemorrhoidectomy to reduce postoperative complications while minimizing patient discomfort.

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