Proctological surgery in the one-day surgery regimen: the preliminary results with 232 patients [Chirurgia proctologica in regime di one day surgery: risultati preliminari su 232 pazienti.]

Abstract Simple anorectal surgery can be routinely employed on a one-day surgery (ODS) bases; however complications such as bleeding, urinary retention, and postoperative pain represent a limitation in this respect. In this paper we report preliminary results of our experience in surgery for haemorrhoids, anal fissures and fistulas, achieved in two years on 232 patients. Our protocol includes admission in the morning of the operation and preoperative evaluation by means of ECG, coagulation profile, assay of beta-HCG for female patients. The patients, prepared with a self-administered enema and perianal applications of prilocaine-lidocaine ointment, is taken in the operative room were a venous line is placed and an anaesthesiologist proceed to monitoring of ECG, blood pressure and oximetry. 211 patients were operated under locoregional anaesthesia performed by the surgeon by means of bilateral pudendal nerves blocking. Whereas the remaining underwent general or spinal anesthesia. With this approach we performed 106 haemorrhoidectomies, 96 sphincterotomies, 19 of which with posterior anoplasty and 30 fistulectomy or fistulotomy. 60 mg of ketorolac have been injected locally at the end of operation in order to improve postoperative pain control. Patients undergoing hemorrhoidectomy, anoplasty, fistulotomy or fistulectomy were discharged after 24 hours whereas those undergoing sphincterotomy went home the same day. We reported 4 early postoperative complications in the haemorrhoids group with an incidence of 1.7% (two bleedings, one urinary retention and one fever) treated conservatively. Postoperative pain resulted adequately controlled by a low dosage of NSAID (a mean of 3.7 doses of 30 mg ketorolac/patient). Our satisfactory results seem to suggest continuing the practice of one-day surgery in proctology.