Lord procedure for treatment of postpartum hemorrhoids and fissures.

Postpartum anorectal disease often complicates an otherwise normal and pleasant delivery. The obstetrician must relieve severe symptoms in patients who otherwise could leave the hospital. One hundred nineteen patients with severe hemorrhoidal symptoms or painful anal fissures were treated by anal dilatation. This therapy relieved the symptoms in all patients without extended hospitalization and did not expose nursing mothers to anesthesia or narcotic medication. The long-term effects were excellent; there was only 1 recurrence of hemorrhoidal symptoms after 3 years of follow-up.