Is continued anal dilatation necessary after a Lord's procedure for haemorrhoids?

Forty patients with symptomatic haemorrhoids had a Lord's procedure performed under general anaesthetic. Anal pressures were recorded before and after the dilatation. The patients were then randomly allocated to one of two regimens. Group 1 was given only a bulk laxative and group 2 was given a bulk laxative and a large anal dilator to use over the next few months according to Lord's regimen. When reviewed at 3 months and 12 months there was no difference in the results between the two groups. We conclude that the use of an anal dilator does not improve the result after a Lord's procedure.