Cryotherapy Post-haemorrhoidectomy (CYPHER) Randomized Controlled Trial
Haemorrhoids is a common problem with an estimated prevalence of 5 to 36%. Surgery is indicated in patients with grade 3 to 4 piles and in patients whom conservative measures have failed. There have been several surgical techniques described such as the Milligan- Morgan, Ferguson haemorrhoidectomy, stapled and laser haemorrhoidectomy. However, most patients experience different degrees of postoperative pain which may cause anxiety and dissatisfaction. A relatively non-invasive and cost-effective technique targeting inflammation is cryotherapy which has been shown to decrease pain secondary to trauma, injury or disease. Cryotherapy has few deleterious side effects due to its non-pharmacologic nature and has become widespread in sports medicine to treat soft tissue damage. Therefore, we aim to evaluate the role of cryotherapy in improving postoperative pain and outcomes among patients who undergo haemorrhoidectomy.
• Age group of patients: 21 to 75 years old
• Grade 3 (prolapsed but reducible manually) and Grade 4 (prolapsed but irreducible) piles that are symptomatic
• Patients recruited are to undergo either staple or conventional (Milligan-Morgan or Ferguson) haemorrhoidectomy