Postoperative care

During the first hour or hemorrhoidectomy, patients should lie on their back in order to decrease the risk of an anesthesia-induced headache, which can be painful and prolonged. Intrahospital stay is reduced to the minimum and patients may be able to go home the same day or may spend 1 or 2 days in the hospital. The pain medication is prescribed and should be taken as directed. Generally, the complete recovery can last from 6 weeks up to 2 months.

Precautions to take

Every individual should do some particular activities at the first three to four weeks after the surgery. Some of those activities are:

    * Avoid lifting anything heavy
    * Keep the incision clean and dry
    * Eat a high-fiber diet
    * Drink plenty of fluids
    * Take some stool softener or a laxative to prevent constipation.

Possible postoperative complications

Some possible complications that are common after this type of operation are:

    * Infection
    * Excessive bleeding
    * Narrowing of the rectum
    * Allergic reaction to the anesthetic.
    * Anal fistula or fissure
    * Constipation
    * Excessive discharge of fluid from the rectum
    * Fever
    * Inability to urinate or have a bowel movement
    * Severe pain, especially when having a bowel movement
    * Severe redness and swelling in the rectal area

You should suspect that you have developed some kind of post-operative complication if you experience severe pain, especially with bowel movements, excessive drainage of fluid or pus, fever, severe redness and swelling in the rectal area, inability to have a bowel movement or inability to urinate.

Laser hemorrhoidectomy

In the last couple of years, laser operation is also being used to treat the hemorrhoids.  During the laser hemorrhoidectomy, laser light source is being used to remove tissue that is diseased or to treat blood vessels that are bleeding.
 
Advantages of laser surgery

   1. These types of operations are called bloodless surgeries because the laser procedures usually involve less bleeding than conventional surgery.
   2. The risk of infection is also largely reduced since the heat generated by the laser keeps the surgical site free of bacteria.
   3. The incision is also much smaller.
   4. Laser procedures often take less time and cost less.

Disadvantages of laser surgery

Hospital must be equipped with oxygen and other drugs and equipment required for cardiopulmonary resuscitation and physicians performing laser procedures should be properly trained, licensed, and insured. Emergency transportation to a hospital should be available whenever laser surgery is performed in a non-hospital setting.