Abstract
Aim: To assess the outcome of the conventional Ferguson approach in the surgery of our patients who were operated on for prolapsed internal hemorrhoid.
Method: 769 patients who were treated with the Ferguson technique between March 2007 and January 2017 were included in the study. Patients' medical files were assessed and, the complaints at presentation, anorectal comorbidities, operation findings and postoperative early and late complication data were recorded.
Results: 65% of the patients were male and the mean age was 39 years (18 -81). The durations of complaints varied between one week and 5 years. In the order of higher to lower frequency the complaints were palpable pakers, bleeding and pain respectively. The pakers were at classical locations (3,5,7,11 o’clock) in 69 % of patients. Most of the cases (65%) were grade 4 hemorroid. 19 % of patients had anal fissures as anorectal comorbidity. All patients were operated on at the lithotomy position under spinal anaesthesia. Operation time for ferguson technique was on average 20 minutes and postoperative stay in hospital was one day on average. During the postoperative period, 55 patients developed early complications. These included severe abdominal pain in 25 patients (3-25%), bleeding in 3 (0,4%) and urine retention in 28 (3.60%). Late complications developed in 7 patients. There developed anal stenosis in one patient, anal fissure in 3 and fistula with an abscess in 2. Incontinence and recurrence were not observed in any patient.
Conclusion: Ferguson technique is still employed for hemorrhoid surgery. The results of our study support the Ferguson hemorrhoidectomy as a reliable method of preference.