MedicineNet.com
  MedicineNet home Picture Slideshows Diseases and conditions Symptoms and signs Procedures and tests Medications Health and Living Health news and views MedTerms medical dictionary  
Font Size
A
A
A


Stapled Hemorrhoidectomy

Medical Author: Jay W. Marks, MD
Medical Editor: Thomas P. Sokol, MD, FACS, FASCRS

Stapled hemorrhoidectomy is the newest surgical technique for treating hemorrhoids. Stapled hemorrhoidectomy is a misnomer since the surgery does not remove the hemorrhoids but, rather, the abnormally lax and expanded hemorrhoidal supporting tissue that has allowed the hemorrhoids to prolapse downward.

For stapled hemorrhoidectomy, a circular, hollow tube is inserted into the anal canal. Through this tube, a suture (a long thread) is placed, actually woven, circumferentially within the anal canal above the internal hemorrhoids. The ends of the suture are brought out of the anus through the hollow tube. The stapler (a disposable instrument with a circular stapling device at the end) is placed through the first hollow tube and the ends of the suture are pulled. Pulling the suture pulls the expanded hemorrhoidal supporting tissue into the jaws of the stapler. The hemorrhoidal cushions are pulled back up into their normal position within the anal canal. The stapler then is fired. When it fires, the stapler cuts off the circumferential ring of expanded hemorrhoidal tissue trapped within the stapler and at the same time staples together the upper and lower edges of the cut tissue.

Internal Hemorrhoids in Anal Canal

Picture of Internal Hemorrhoids in Anal Canal


Hollow Tube Inserted into the Anal Canal and Pushing up the Hemorrhoids

Picture of Hollow Tube Inserted into the Anal Canal and Pushing up the Hemorrhoids


Suturing the Anal Canal through the Hollow Tube

Picture of Suturing the Anal Canal through the Hollow Tube


Bringing Expanded Hemorrhoidal Supporting Tissue into the Hollow Tube by Pulling on Suture

Picture of Bringing Expanded Hemorrhoidal Supporting Tissue into the Hollow Tube by pulling On Suture


Hemorrhoids Pulled Back Above Anal Canal after Stapling and Removal of Hemorrhoidal Supporting Tissue

Picture of Hemorrhoids Pulled Back Above Anal Canal after Stapling and Removal of Hemorrhoidal Supporting Tissue

During stapled hemorrhoidectomy, the arterial blood vessels that travel within the expanded hemorrhoidal tissue and feed the hemorrhoidal vessels are cut, thereby reducing the blood flow to the hemorrhoidal vessels and reducing the size of the hemorrhoids. During the healing of the cut tissues around the staples, scar tissue forms, and this scar tissue anchors the hemorrhoidal cushions in their normal position higher in the anal canal. The staples are needed only until the tissue heals. They then fall off and pass in the stool unnoticed after several weeks. Stapled hemorrhoidectomy is designed primarily to treat internal hemorrhoids, but if external hemorrhoids are present, they may be reduced as well.

Stapled hemorrhoidectomy is faster than traditional hemorrhoidectomy, taking approximately 30 minutes. It is associated with much less pain than traditional hemorrhoidectomy and patients usually return earlier to work. Patients often sense a fullness or pressure within the rectum as if they need to defecate, but this usually resolves within several days. The risks of stapled hemorrhoidectomy include bleeding, infection, anal fissuring (tearing of the lining of the anal canal), narrowing of the anal or rectal wall due to scarring, persistence of internal or external hemorrhoids, and, rarely, trauma to the rectal wall.

Stapled hemorrhoidectomy was first used in Europe in the mid 1990's and there has been increasing, worldwide usage in recent years. If results continue to be good with more experience and longer follow-up of patients, stapled hemorrhoidectomy is likely to become the mainstay of surgical therapy for symptomatic, prolapsing hemorrhoids.


Last Editorial Review: 9/14/2007





Printer-Friendly Format  |  Email to a Friend


space Related health and medical articles From the Doctors at MedicineNet.com MedicineNet Doctors recommend space
space
MedicineNet Doctors Recommend
  • Rectal Bleeding - Rectal bleeding can be a sign of several different conditions including hemorrhoids, anal fisure, colitis, and more. Source:MedicineNet
  • Hemorrhoids - In-depth article on hemorrhoids: symptoms, causes, and treatments including exactly what haemorrhoids (also known as piles) are. Read details about internal and external hemmorrhoids, and the different types of over-the-counter treatments. Source:MedicineNet
  • Anal Fissure - An anal fissure is a fairly common, painful condition in which the lining of the anal canal is torn. Source:MedicineNet
  • Read 3 more Stapled Hemorrhoidectomy related articles ...
Latest Medical News
space

Women's Health

Find out what women really need.




Topics Related to Stapled Hemorrhoidectomy
Diseases & Conditions
more »

Stapled Hemorrhoidectomy
RSS FeedSpecialty RSS       Add to My Yahoo! What is this?

Alternative Hemorrhoid SurgeryAlternative Hemorrhoid Surgery
Did you know that roughly half of all Americans over 50 have hemorrhoids? Doctors have a new weapon when surgery is required. See more WebMD Videos »






Top 3
Stapled Hemorrhoidectomy Related Articles


Adult Skin Problems Slideshow




Health categories:

News & Views | Diseases & Conditions | Symptoms & Signs | Procedures & Tests | Medications | Health & Living | Medical Dictionary

Popular health centers:

Allergies | Arthritis | Cancer | Diabetes | Digestion | Healthy Kids | Heart | Men's Health | Mental Health | Women's Health | More...

Publications:

ePublications (PDFs) | XML News via RSS | Audio Podcasts | Email Newsletters

MedicineNet.com:

About Us | Privacy Policy | Search Help | Site Map | WebMD® | Medscape® | eMedicine® | eMedicineHealth® | RxList®

HON Code We comply with the HONcode standard for health trust worthy information:
verify here.

©1996-2008 MedicineNet, Inc. All rights reserved. Notices and Legal Disclaimer.
MedicineNet does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. See additional information.