Ambulatory therapy with combined hemorrhoidal radiocoagulation

BACKGROUND: This is a prospective randomized study to analyze results obtained in two groups of patients affected of grade II hemorrhoids and treated with Radiofrequency Coagulation (RFC) or Combined Hemorrhoidal Radiocoagulation (CHR). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study comprehended 30 patients of which 27 had at least 6 months of follow-up. Two groups of patients were considered: group A, represented by 12 individuals treated with RFC, and group B, consisting of 15 patients treated with CHR. Our purpose was to determine: grade of pain felt immediately after procedure and at first evacuation (score from 1 to 10), bleeding, patient's satisfaction 15 days and 6 months after treatment (score from 1 to 10) and incidence of failures. RESULTS: Mean pain score reported immediately after procedure was 2.08 ± 0.9 for group A and 2.40 ± 1.5 for group B (p = NS). At first evacuation, mean pain score for group A and for group B was 2.16 ± 1.1 vs 2.33 ± 1.17, respectively (p = NS). Satisfaction score during first 15 days was 6.75 ± 2.76 for patients treated with RFC and 6.08 ± 2.20 for patients who received CHR (p = NS), while mean score of overall satisfaction after 6 months was 6.33 ± 1.96 (group A) vs 7.83 ± 2.05 (group B) (p < 0.05). At 6 months of follow-up, we observed 8 patients free from pain in group A (66.7%) and 13 patients in group B (86.7%). CONCLUSIONS: Results reported in both groups of patients confirm validity and efficacy of the two techniques used in this study, even if later in time CHR showed better results than RFC.