Randomized trial comparing diathermy hemorrhoidectomy with the scissor dissection Milligan-Morgan operation.

Twenty consecutive patients (12 male and 8 female) with second-degree, third-degree, or thrombosed hemorrhoids were randomly allocated to undergo either diathermy hemorrhoidectomy (n = 10) or a scissor dissection Milligan-Morgan hemorrhoidectomy (n = 10). No significant difference was found in the postoperative pain score between the groups. On a scale of 0 to 10, the mean daily pain score in the diathermy group was 4.0, and it was 4.1 in the scissor dissection group. Nor was there any significant difference in the length of inpatient stay (diathermy group, 3.5 days; scissor dissection group, 4.0 days) or in the time between the operation and the first bowel action (diathermy group, 2.0 days; scissor dissection group, 3.0 days). Diathermy hemorrhoidectomy has no significant advantage over the scissor dissection classical Milligan-Morgan hemorrhoidectomy.