HAL-RAR Versus Hemorrhoidectomy in the Treatment of Grade III-IV Hemorrhoids. Prospective, Randomized Trial

Prospective and Randomized Trial Comparing Doppler-Guided Transanal Hemorrhoid Artery Ligation With Recto-anal Repair (HAL-RAR) Versus Excisional Hemorrhoidectomy for the Treatment of Grade III-IV Hemorrhoids

HYPOTHESIS

1. HAL- RAR causes a lower immediate postoperative pain compared with excision hemorrhoidectomy.
2. HAL - RAR achieves similar immediate and long term results compared to the excision hemorrhoidectomy in the control of hemorrhoidal symptoms.
3. The complication rate of HAL- RAR is low and similar to excision hemorrhoidectomy.

OBJECTIVES

1. Compare postoperative pain of both techniques.
2. Assess the short and long-term control of hemorrhoidal symptoms by HAL- RAR technique, and compare the results with those of the excision hemorrhoidectomy.
3. Evaluate and compare the rate of complications of both techniques.
4. Assess the quality of life of patients before and after treatment.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Pain, Postoperative; Hemorrhoids
• Intervention / Treatment: Procedure: Hemorrhoidectomy; Procedure: HAL-RAR

Detailed Description

The classic surgical treatment of hemorrhoidal disease is the excisional hemorrhoidectomy, that consist in the surgical removal of one or more hemorrhoidal cushion, it is considered a safe, radical and definitive treatment; however, it is not exempt of complications and the postoperative pain is considerable. During the last two decades the concept of treatment has evolved to control hemorrhoidal symptoms with less invasive techniques, such as hemorrhoidal bands, arterial ligation Doppler guided hemorrhoidal and more recently, the association of anorectal repair or mucopexia for treating hemorrhoidal mucosal prolapse .

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The trial was subjected to evaluation and accepted by the Ethics Committee of the Fundació Unió Catalana d'Hospitals (Catalonian Union of Hospitals Foundation).

All patients with grade III and IV hemorrhoids that are eligible for surgical treatment with both methods who agree to participate in the study, will be included in the prospective randomized trial. All patients will be required to sign the specific informed consent.

Patients who are suitable for treatment with both techniques will be randomly assigned to the surgical technique.

Inclusion criteria:

1. Patients with symptomatic grade III or IV hemorrhoids (bleeding, pain, itching, soiling or prolapse) that are eligible for surgical treatment with both methods.

Exclusion criteria:

1. Associated recto-anal pathology such as acute thrombosed hemorrhoid, anal fissure, perianal fistula, perianal abscess, rectal prolapse, fecal incontinence or anal stenosis.
2. Prior anorectal surgery .
3. Systemic pathology that could alter the outcome of the surgery as coagulopathies, chronic pain with continued consumption of analgesics.
4. Age younger than 18 or older than 80 years, socio-pathology or inability to understand the study objectives.

All surgeries are performed on an outpatient basis under regional anesthesia and sedation for the same team of three surgeons. Preoperative preparation consists of a cleansing enema and no prophylactic antibiotics will be administered.

Both techniques will be performed in "Jack -Knife" position. The open hemorrhoidectomy may include one to three anal cushions and made according to the Milligan-Morgan technique, with resection of the anal cushion and the external hemorrhoidal epidermal component using electrocautery and ligation of the hemorrhoidal base with absorbable suture. Once completed hemorrhoidectomy a perianal block is performed with bupivacaine/epinephrine.

Hemorrhoidal artery ligation and rectoanal repair will be performed with the AMI minimally invasive surgery device HAL/RAR, and consist in the ligation of the terminal branches of the superior rectal artery with 2-0 absorbable polyglycolic acid suture after identifying the blood flow approximately 3 cm above the dentate line by using Doppler guidance. Subsequently, a running suture was added from the suture point to 5 mm above the dentate line to lift the prolapsing hemorroid. Other procedures will not be associated, if necessary, the patient will be excluded from the study .

The patient will be discharged if adequate pain control, oral tolerance and spontaneous diuresis is achieved, and after examination by the surgeon in order to discard immediate complications. The ambulatory treatment consists of an osmotic laxative (magnesium hydroxide ), oral analgesia with paracetamol/tramadol ( 325mg/37.5mg ) every 6 hours and Dexketoprofen (25 mg) every 8 hours, metamizol (575 mg) may be associated every 8 hours if pain. In case of persistent pain, the patient will be examined in emergency room.

EVALUATION OF RESULTS A power analysis was performed to assess the study sample size. Choosing a power of 0.8 and a confidence interval of 95% α-error of 0.05, we calculated that 20 patients were needed in each arm.

All patients will be evaluated with a validated questionnaire of 36 questions on quality of life ( SF-36 ) and specific questions about specific symptoms of hemorrhoidal disease (pain, itching , bleeding, soiling and hemorrhoidal prolapse reduction ). The questionnaire will be answered before the intervention, after six and twelve months of follow up.

All patients will complete a diary testing global postoperative pain every day, measured on a numerical scale from 0 to 10 during the first 15 days.

The patients will be assessed on the day of discharge and at 7, 14, and 30 postoperative days. The patients will be evaluated at 6, 12 and 24 postoperative months in the outpatient clinic.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 40
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Fernando Carvajal, Dr.; Phone Number: 0034 676983590; Email: fernando.carvajal@hospitalplato.com
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Daniel Troyano; Email: daniel.troyano@hospitalplato.com

Study Locations

• Spain
  • Catalunya
    • Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain, 08006
      • Hospital Plató

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 80 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients with symptomatic grade III or IV hemorrhoids (bleeding, pain, itching, soiling or prolapse) that are eligible for surgical treatment with both methods.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Associated recto-anal pathology such as acute thrombosed hemorrhoid, anal fissure, perianal fistula, perianal abscess, rectal prolapse, fecal incontinence or anal stenosis.
• Prior anorectal surgery .
• Systemic pathology that could alter the outcome of the surgery as coagulopathies, chronic pain with continued consumption of analgesics.
• Age younger than 18 or older than 80 years, socio-pathology or inability to understand the study objectives

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Hemorrhoidectomy; Open hemorrhoidectomy may include one to three anal cushions and made according to the Milligan-Morgan technique, with resection of the anal cushion and the external hemorrhoidal epidermal component using electrocautery and ligation of the hemorrhoidal base with absorbable suture	Procedure: Hemorrhoidectomy; Open hemorrhoidectomy may include one to three anal cushions and made according to the Milligan-Morgan technique, with resection of the anal cushion and the external hemorrhoidal epidermal component using electrocautery and ligation of the hemorrhoidal base with absorbable suture
Active Comparator: HAL-RAR; Hemorrhoidal artery ligation and rectoanal repair will be performed with the AMI minimally invasive surgery device HAL/RAR, and consist in the ligation of the terminal branches of the superior rectal artery with 2-0 absorbable polyglycolic acid suture after identifying the blood flow approximately 3 cm above the dentate line by using Doppler guidance. Subsequently, a running suture was added from the suture point to 5 mm above the dentate line to lift the prolapsing hemorrhoid. Other procedures will not be associated.	Procedure: HAL-RAR; Hemorrhoidal artery ligation and rectoanal repair will be performed with the AMI minimally invasive surgery device HAL/RAR, and consist in the ligation of the terminal branches of the superior rectal artery with 2-0 absorbable polyglycolic acid suture after identifying the blood flow approximately 3 cm above the dentate line by using Doppler guidance. Subsequently, a running suture was added from the suture point to 5 mm above the dentate line to lift the prolapsing hemorrhoid. Other procedures will not be associated.; Other Names: Hemorrhoid Artery Ligation and Rectoanal Repair

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Immediate postoperative pain	All patients will complete a diary testing global postoperative pain every day, measured on a numerical scale from 0 to 10 during the first 15 days.	up to first 15 postoperative days

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Long-term control of hemorrhoidal symptoms	Specific symptoms of hemorrhoidal disease (pain, itching , bleeding, soiling and hemorrhoidal prolapse reduction) will be evaluated. Te patient will mark in a questionaire the options "yes" or "no" for each item.	1, 6, 12 and 24 months after surgery

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
SF-36 Quality of life score	All patients will be evaluated with a validated questionnaire of 36 questions on quality of life ( SF-36 )	Preoperative, 6 and 12 months after surgery

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Hospital Plató
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Fernando Carvajal, Dr, Hospital Plató Barcelona

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Johanson JF, Sonnenberg A. The prevalence of hemorrhoids and chronic constipation. An epidemiologic study. Gastroenterology. 1990 Feb;98(2):380-6. doi: 10.1016/0016-5085(90)90828-o.
• Elmer SE, Nygren JO, Lenander CE. A randomized trial of transanal hemorrhoidal dearterialization with anopexy compared with open hemorrhoidectomy in the treatment of hemorrhoids. Dis Colon Rectum. 2013 Apr;56(4):484-90. doi: 10.1097/DCR.0b013e31827a8567.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: September 1, 2014
• Primary Completion (Actual): November 1, 2016
• Study Completion (Actual): November 1, 2016

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: August 12, 2014
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 12, 2014
• First Posted (Estimate): August 13, 2014

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 13, 2023
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 9, 2023
• Last Verified: March 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Quality of Life; Hemorrhoids; Postoperative Complications; HAL-RAR; Hemorrhoid artery ligation; Anal repair
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Digestive System Diseases; Pathologic Processes; Cardiovascular Diseases; Vascular Diseases; Postoperative Complications; Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Gastrointestinal Diseases; Intestinal Diseases; Rectal Diseases; Pain, Postoperative; Hemorrhoids
• Other Study ID Numbers: HAL-RAR Plató 2.0

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO