대한대장항문학회

This study was undertaken to evaluate the treatment of circumferential hemorrhoids<br>using the CO<sub>2</sub> laser.<br>Method : Five hundred seventy-two consecutive patients with circumferential<br>hemorrhoids(411 males, 161 females) had hemorrhoidectomy performed with<br>CO<sub>2</sub> laser under caudal or epidural anesthesia during the 2 year-period<br>between July 1994 and June 1996. The follow-up period was a minimum of 3 months<br>after hemorrhoidectomy. The standard Milligan-Morgan open technique was used for<br>most full three-quadrant hemorrhoidectomies. For the excision of necessary piles,<br>"core-ablation" technique was employed.<br>Results : The postoperative pain lasted for an average of 2.10 days. Comlications of<br>hemorrhoidectomy included Postoperative skin tags, bleeding, wound infection, delayed<br>wound healing, urinary retention and anal fistula in only a few of the cases, none of<br>which caused any long-term problems.<br>Conclusions : These results indicate that CO<sub>2</sub> laser hemorrhoidectomy is<br>feasible and safe provided it is used with care, and that it seems to cause no significant<br>alteration in anorectal physiology.<br>