Hemorrhoidectomy with posterior perineal block - Experience with 400 cases

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the advantages and feasibility of hemorrhoidectomy using regional anesthesia (posterior perineal block). METHODS: From March 1994 to December 1998 we performed 400 hemorrhoidectomies with regional anesthesia in an overnight-stay regimen in our department (Colo-Rectal Unit). Posterior perineal block involves anesthesia of the deep plains (infiltration of the inferior hemorrhoidal nerves, the posterior branch of the internal pudendal nerves, and the anococcygeal nerves) and anesthesia of the superficial plains (block of the inferior gluteal nerves and of perineal branches of minor nerves from the sacral plexus). RESULTS: Posterior perineal block was always effective; optimal to satisfactory intraoperative analgesia was obtained in 379 patients (95.2 percent), whereas in 17 cases (4.2 percent) intravenous analgesic drugs were administered. No conversion to general anesthesia was needed. Urinary retention was 7.8 percent. In our study most of patients (70 percent) reported no pain at all for five to ten hours. Ninety-two percent of patients were discharged in the first 24 hours. CONCLUSIONS: Posterior perineal block allows the surgeon to perform radical hemorrhoidectomies in an overnight-stay regimen with safe and effective intraoperative and postoperative analgesia, sphincter relaxation, and low incidence of urinary retention. Experience of the surgeon combined with careful surgical handling are of great importance for success in this technique.