Randomized controlled trial of bipolar diathermy vs ultrasonic scalpel for closed hemorrhoidectomy

Table 1 Characteristics of patients randomized to group 1 (bipolar diathermy) or group 2 (ultrasonic scalpel) for closed hemorrhoidectomy

	Group 1	Group 2	P
No. of patients	30	30
Nedian (range) age (yr)	63 (3-85)	63 (27-84)	0.646
Sex ratio (M:F)	16:14	16:14	1.000
Grade			0.598
III	17	19
IV	13	11

Table 2 Outcomes of patients undergoing bipolar diathermy (group 1) or ultrasonic scalpe (group 2)

Parameter	Group 1 (n = 30)	Group 2 (n = 30)	P
No. of hemorrhoids resected, median (range)	3 (2-4)	3 (2-4)	0.548
2	8	9
3	18	19
4	4	2
Operating time (95% CI, min)	16 (14.6-18.2)	31 (28.1-35.3)	< 0.0001
Blood loss (95% CI, mL)	0.9 (0.8-3.7)	4.6 (3.8-7.0)	0.001
Oral analgesics use (tablets) (95% CI, 24 h)	1 (0.4-0.9)	1 (0.9-1.3)	0.006
Hospital stay (95% CI, d)	2 (2.1-2.7)	2 (2.2-2.8)	0.275
First defecation (95% CI, postoperative day)	1 (1.1-1.7)	1 (1.2-1.8)	0.883
Satisfaction (95% CI, -3 to +3)	3 (1.9-2.8)	3 (1.9-2.7)	0.931

Table 3 Pain scroes for patients undergoing bipolar diathermy (group 1) or ultrasonic scalpel (group 2) (95% CI)

Time point	Group 1 (n = 30)	Group 2 (n = 30)	P
Preoperative	0 (0.1-1.0)	0 (0.0-1.1)	0.303
POD 1	2 (1.8-3.5)	3 (2.6-4.2)	0.135
POD 2	2 (1.8-3.3)	2.5 (1.9-3.3)	0.690
POD 3	2 (1.6-2.3)	2.5 (1.9-3.1)	0.484
POD 4	2 (1.4-2.7)	2 (1.6-3.0)	0.602
POD 5	2 (1.3-3.0)	2 (1.3-2.6)	0.988
POD 6	2 (1.5-2.9)	2 (1.5-2.9)	0.976
POD 7	1 (1.1-2.4)	2 (1.3-2.5)	0.416
POW 3	0 (0.4-1.2)	0 (0.3-1.1)	0.665
POW 6	0 (0.1-0.9)	0 (0.0-0.4)	0.399

POD: postoperative day; POW: postoperative week.

Table 4 Complications of patients undergoing bipolar diathermy (group 1) or ultrasonic scalpel (group 2)

	Group 1 (n = 30)	Group 2 (n = 30)	P
Urinary retention	2	5	0.424
Wound edema (at 1 wk)	5	6	0.330
Hemorrhage	0	1	1.000
Anal stenosis (at 6 wk)	0	0	-
Flatus incontinence (at 6 wk)	0	0	-
Impaired wound healing (at 6 wk)	2	1	1.000
Recurrence (at 6 wk)	0	0	-