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A randomised trial of open vs closed haemorrhoidectomy on the same patient
ISRCTN ISRCTN83816740
ClinicalTrials.gov identifier
Public title A randomised trial of open vs closed haemorrhoidectomy on the same patient
Scientific title
Acronym N/A
Serial number at source N0515150705
Study hypothesis Which of the two most popular surgical techniques for removing haemorrhoids causes least pain, and fastest healing?
Ethics approval Not provided at time of registration
Study design Randomised controlled trial
Countries of recruitment United Kingdom
Disease/condition/study domain Surgery: Haemorrhoidectomy
Participants - inclusion criteria Patients undergoing haemorrhoidectomy for symptomatic Grade III and Grade IV haemorrhoids.
The Chief Investigator will approach the patients in clinic or on the ward and explain the study with both verbal and written information. Those patients willing to participate in the study will be recruited following a full explanation of what is involved and written consent.
Participants - exclusion criteria Not provided at time of registration
Anticipated start date 01/09/2004
Anticipated end date 01/03/2006
Status of trial Stopped
Patient information material
Target number of participants Not provided at time of registration
Interventions Patients will be fully informed about the project and written consent will be obtained prior to their enrollment in the study. Operations will be carried out under general anaesthetic, either as a day case procedure, or as an inpatient as appropriate. At the time of operation the haemorrhoids will be assessed, and each haemorrhoid swelling randomised to either the 'open' or 'closed' procedure by the toss of a coin. The haemorrhoid will be removed according to the technique randomly chosen. The haemorrhoid on the opposite side of the anus will have the other procedure performed. Any further haemorrhoids will be randomised in the same way. The operative techniques for the two procedures will be standardised so all surgeons operating in the study perform them in the same way.
An established protocol will be used for the preoperative and postoperative management of the patients. This will include 3 days of lactulose (a stool softener) prior to the operation, and a discharge pack of lactulose, metronidazole (an antibiotic which has been found to help with pain relief after such operations), diltiazem cream (which relaxes the sphincter, relieving post operative pain) and diclofenac (a painkiller). This is the standard regime for all patients having haemorrhoid surgery. After the operation, patients will be given a diagram of the positions of the removed haemorrhoids. They will be asked to rank the wounds in order of painfulness at the end of each day. They will also be asked to complete daily pain scores on a 10cm visual analogue scale, recording both experienced and expected pain. The day of the first post operative bowel action will also be recorded, as well as pain scores for this and subsequent bowel actions. Patients will be asked to keep diary cards for the two weeks following their operation.
Patients will be assessed in the Outpatient clinic at 2 weeks, 6 weeks and 6 months following the operation. At these appointments any complications will be noted, and the wounds inspected. At the two week appointment a digital photo will be taken of the healing wounds. These will be assessed by a blinded observer and marked on a scale of 1 to 10 (with 1 being complete healing, and 10 being very poor wound healing.) The time taken to return to normal activities and work will also be recorded.

Added July 2008: the trial was stopped due to lack of participants.
Primary outcome measure(s) Results of the haemorrhoidectomy technique used in terms of post operative pain scores and healing rates.
Secondary outcome measure(s) Not provided at time of registration
Sources of funding North West London Hospitals NHS Trust (UK)
Trial website
Publications
Contact name Mr  Alexander  Hardy
  Address North West London Hospitals NHS Trust
St Mark's Hospital
Watford Road
  City/town Harrow
  Zip/Postcode HA1 3UJ
  Country United Kingdom
  Tel +44 (0)20 8235 4019
  Fax +44 (0)20 8235 4001
  Email hardystmarks@yahoo.com
Sponsor Record Provided by the NHSTCT Register - 2005 Update - Department of Health (UK)
  Address The Department of Health, Richmond House, 79 Whitehall
  City/town London
  Zip/Postcode SW1A 2NL
  Country United Kingdom
  Tel +44 (0)20 7307 2622
  Email dhmail@doh.gsi.org.uk
  Sponsor website: http://www.dh.gov.uk/Home/fs/en
Date applied 30/09/2005
Last edited 10/07/2008
Date ISRCTN assigned 30/09/2005
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