Prospective Randomized Trial Comparing HAL-RAR Versus Excisional Hemorrhoidectomy: Postoperative Pain, Clinical Outcomes, and Quality of Life.

PURPOSE: To compare outcomes of hemorrhoid artery ligation with recto-anal repair (HAL-RAR) and excisional hemorrhoidectomy (EH). The primary objective was to compare postoperative pain, and the secondary objectives were the following: symptom resolution rates, postoperative morbidity, recurrence, and changes in quality of life. METHOD: Prospective randomized controlled trial, including 40 patients with grades III-IV hemorrhoids who were allocated 1:1 to HAL-RAR and EH. Follow-up evaluation was performed at 15 days, 30 days, 6 months, 12 months, and then annually. Pain was measured using a Visual Analogic Scale and was self-recorded by patients. Quality of life was measured with Short Form Survey-36 questionnaire. RESULTS: Postoperative pain was lower in the HAL-RAR group during the first 30 postoperative days. Moreover, from day 7 onward more patients in the HAL-RAR group reported complete absence of pain (Visual Analogic Scale score = 0). Globally, symptom resolution was significantly higher ( P = .03) in the HAL-RAR group at day 15. Bleeding resolution was observed earlier in the HAL-RAR group than in the EH group ( P = .04), but no differences in the resolution of prolapse, itching, and soiling were observed during the 30-day follow-up. After a mean follow-up of 15 months (range 12-27 months), no differences in postoperative morbidity and no recurrences were observed. An improvement was observed in all sections evaluated by the Short Form Survey-36 questionnaire with both techniques. CONCLUSION: HAL-RAR provokes less postoperative pain during a shorter period than EH and achieves resolution of hemorrhoidal symptoms with less postoperative complaints. No differences in morbidity and recurrence rate were observed after 12 months of follow-up.

Bactibilia and Antibiotic Resistance in Elective Cholecysctectomy: An Updated Ecologic Survey.

BACKGROUND: The role of bactibilia as a risk factor for an unfavorable outcome during biliary disease or surgical procedures remains obscure. Our aim was to identify possible risk factors for bactibilia and their possible relations to complications after elective cholecystectomy. As secondary aims, composition and antibiotic resistance patterns were studied. METHODS: Bile and gallbladder mucosa samples from 358 elective cholecystectomies were collected prospectively between June 2009 and June 2012. Ordinary microbiologic cultures and antibiograms were performed. All pre-operative factors associated with bactibilia were studied by stepwise logistic regression multivariable analysis. RESULTS: The bacteria isolated most frequently from 103 positive cultures were Escherichia coli (21.3%), Enterococcus spp. (14.7%), and Enterobacter spp. (14.7%) with a global amoxicillin-clavulanic acid resistance rate of 53.7%. Age >65 y, male gender, previous instrumentation or disease of the biliary tract, and high American Society of Anesthesiologists score were independent risk factors. No correlation was found between bactibilia and surgical complications. CONCLUSIONS: Although the influence of bactibilia in developing surgical complications is limited, its composition and the high rate of resistance can be influential enough to modify antibiotic treatment in biliary tract infections, especially in high-risk patients.