Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Hemorrhoidectomy: Details Of Surgery And Procedure.

By Joel Maxford

Third and fourth degree hemorrhoids normally can't be cured by normal procedures and require a hemorrhoidectomy. This surgery is used to remove internal hemorrhoids and in some severe cases it can be used to remove external hemorrhoids that have not been cured with the normal medication that is prescribed.

When under going this operation, it is necessary to use anesthesia and depending on the extent of the surgery, the patients' preference to the medication and the patients' health, there are three types of anesthesia that can be applied. The types of anesthesia are the following: general anesthesia, which leaves the patient fully unconscious, spinal anesthesia, which numbs from the waist down and local anesthesia which is injected directly into the area that is going to be operated on.

Not eating a minimum of 12 hours before the surgery prevents the risk of vomiting during the operation and also in recovery; this is highly recommended by the doctors and surgeons. It is also normal to undergo various tests before the operation will take place, these can include blood tests and urine tests. In very sever cases if the patient is very poorly, other tests will take place such as an x-ray and aspirin to thin out the blood.

The hemorrhoidectomy will last form anything from 1 hour up to 1 and a half hours if all of the previous tests have been passed accordingly. The operation is a simple on which the patient is placed face down on the table with his legs held in straps so that the buttocks is facing up with both anus and rectum exposed. Once the anesthesia starts taking effect, the surgeon will proceed to clamp and tie the hemorrhoid so that it will not bleed, and with a scalpel, remove the hemorrhoid.

Once the operation is over, the patient will be sent to observation until the anesthesia wears out of the system completely; the patients will then undergo another test to see if he can urinate, this is to assure that there is no inflammation in the tissues sometimes caused by the operation. If everything is fine the patient will be sent home, but if any complication should arise, the patient will be kept under observation.

Pain and bleeding after the surgery is to be expected and because of this the doctor is likely to prescribe the patient with some medicine. It is also normal to bleed when moving bowels, especially directly after the surgery and it is sometimes recommended to take some numbing medication before trying to move bowels. Taking antibiotics after the operation will stop any infections that might occur.

It is highly recommended by doctors to take special care after surgery to prevent any unnecessary pain and discomfort. Trying to soften stools by eating a high fiber diet to ease strain when moving stools, taking stool softeners is also a great idea. Taking baths in warm water will help relax muscles and ease pain as well.

As everybody knows, there can be certain risks after having an operation and these may happen in early stages and late stages. The problems that may occur in an early stage can be hematoma, when the blood clots around the operated area, incontinence, some bleeding and sometimes infections. The problems in the later stage can appear as the reappearance of the hemorrhoid, rectal prolapse and severe bleeding. Regular checks with the doctor can detect these problems before they get worse. - 14130

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