The article has the participation of professional advice from MSc, MD, Duong Xuan Loc - doctor from Gastroenterologist - General Surgery Department - Vinmec International Hospital in Da Nang.
Hemorrhoidectomy is considered the most optimal treatment method when other treatments are not effective. However, this method will also cause complications if the doctor's instructions are not strictly followed.
1. Bleeding
This is a condition where there is thrombosis in the surgical area, which can be big or small. This complication occurs for several causes, specifically:
- Due to surgical mistakes: techniques are not performed carefully, so it is easy to miss hemorrhoids, and bleeding will occur at the openings of the remaining hemorrhoids.
- Constipation can also easily cause bleeding after surgery because when patients are constipated, they often have to push hard to push the stool out. At this time, the anal mucosa and skin have not been fully restored, so it is very vulnerable.
Recurrent hemorrhoids are a common phenomenon even after hemorrhoidectomy; the typical symptom is bleeding during bowel movements.
2. Anal stenosis
Temporary stenosis
This is one of the very common complications because during the treatment process, the control muscles of the anus are paralyzed. This problem can improve completely over time, so it does not need to worry much. To help shorten the recovery time when experiencing this symptom, experts advise patients to practice qigong or acupuncture.
Permanent stenosis
This condition occurs due to the patient's congenital malformation or postoperative trauma causing scarring and contraction. To avoid this condition, the surgeon needs to limit the size of the incision and avoid damaging the surrounding tissue. In addition, patients should also use hot water or traditional medicine to soak and steam the hemorrhoids to help blood circulation and muscle recovery easier.
3. Local infection
Because the surgical area is located next to the anus, after each bowel movement, bacteria can easily invade, causing infection, redness, and pus. To avoid infection after surgery, patients need to pay attention to hygiene by washing the anus with clean water after defecation, which is both clean and painless, instead of wiping with a towel or paper.
4. Loss of control over defecation
Patients may experience fecal incontinence in the first few days after surgery because the anus dilates suddenly and strongly. Partial loss of control may last long, due to a strong impact that partially ruptures the sphincter. Surgical treatment of this injury is significantly difficult and complicated.
5. Methods to help limit complications after hemorrhoidectomy
No one wants complications after hemorrhoidectomy, but patients can completely limit them by taking the following measures:
- Patients should limit overwork and strenuous exercise because it can affect the results of surgery.
- Regularly clean the anus to avoid infection. In addition to using water, patients should use herbs with good antibacterial properties such as lettuce, green tea leaves, etc. to clean the sauna room.
- Develop a suitable diet to support the recovery process after surgery. Patients should eat a variety of green vegetables and fresh fruits to provide enough fiber and necessary vitamins. This is also an effective way to limit constipation that patients should not ignore.
- At the same time, in the diet, it is necessary to limit spicy foods, foods high in fat, and alcoholic beverages, which are not beneficial for digestion.
- Take medication as prescribed by the doctor to prevent possible complications. At the same time, patients should have regular check-ups according to the scheduled appointment to help the doctor examine and evaluate the results of the surgery. In case of complications, the doctor will also have timely intervention measures.
Do not worry about complications after hemorrhoidectomy because they are completely preventable. Before applying any measures, patients should carefully consult with their directing doctor, to be best prepared psychologically, so that the treatment can be more effective.
At Vinmec International Hospital, the Longo method applies hemorrhoidectomy surgery without worrying about recurrence. The Longo method helps to recover quickly after 1-2 days and causes minimum damages, patients can rest assured to get rid of the obsession with hemorrhoids.
Compared to the traditional direct hemorrhoidectomy method (which causes the patient pain because the intervention area is where many nerve endings are concentrated; direct hemorrhoidectomy causes the anal cushion to be lost, causing the patient to lose weight, bleed, and can cause many serious complications), the Longo method is being applied by Vinmec—a minimally invasive surgical method with outstanding advantages.
With the Longo hemorrhoidectomy method, the incision is made on the dentate line (where there are very few sensory receptors), and a sewing machine is used to cut the mucosa. Thereby reducing the amount of blood supply to the hemorrhoids, causing less pain and side effects, and preserving the anal cushion for the patient. The surgery time is only 20-30 minutes, with few complications, and the patient is discharged quickly. Currently, this method is being widely applied by Vinmec.
MSc, MD, Duong Xuan Loc has more than 12 years of experience as a Gastroenterologist and is currently a doctor of Gastroenterology at the Department of General Surgery - Vinmec International Hospital in Danang.
Please dial HOTLINE for more information or register for an appointment HERE. Download MyVinmec app to make appointments faster and to manage your bookings easily.
