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Abstract

Background: Haemorrhoids are a common anorectal condition often requiring surgical intervention in advanced stages. Various surgical techniques exist, with ongoing debate regarding the optimal approach for minimizing postoperative complications and improving recovery.
Objective: To evaluate and compare the surgical outcomes between patients undergoing conventional diathermy haemorrhoidectomy and those receiving Ligasure haemorrhoidectomy.
Methods: This was a single centre, hospital based, prospective observational comparative study conducted in the Department of General Surgery, Chettinad Hospital And Research Institute, Chennai, Tamil Nadu among patients operated between January 2024 and December 2024.
Results: The study included 30 patients, equally divided into two groups. Baseline characteristics such as age, gender, BMI, and presence of comorbidities were comparable between the groups, with no statistically significant differences. Postoperative pain, assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), showed a significant reduction over time in both groups. While immediate postoperative pain scores were similar, the Ligasure group reported significantly lower pain at 48 and 72 hours (p < 0.001 and p = 0.001, respectively). By day 5, pain had nearly resolved in both groups, with no significant difference. Intraoperative parameters also favoured Ligasure, with significantly shorter operative time (47.5 vs. 64.2 minutes, p = 0.006) and lower blood loss (10.8 vs. 24.7 ml, p = 0.022). Postoperative recovery was faster in the Ligasure group, as evidenced by a shorter hospital stay (4.6 vs. 6.8 days, p = 0.007) and earlier return to work (13.6 vs. 18.2 days, p = 0.005). Conclusion: LigaSure haemorrhoidectomy demonstrated superior outcomes compared to conventional diathermy, with reduced pain, operative time, and faster recovery. These findings support its use as an effective and patient-friendly surgical option for advanced haemorrhoids