What is Hemorrhoidectomy?

A hemorrhoidectomy is an operation to remove hemorrhoids. Hemorrhoids are swollen (dilated) veins located in or around the anus and rectum. Hemorrhoids can cause discomfort, pain, or bleeding.

Hemorrhoid © 2009 Nucleus Medical Media, Inc.

Hemorrhoidectomy is used to treat painful, swollen hemorrhoids. The procedure is most often done for the following reasons:

• Hemorrhoid symptoms do not get better with other therapies
• Severely bleeding hemorrhoids
• Severely painful hemorrhoids
• Hemorrhoid containing a blood clot (thrombosed hemorrhoid)
• Hemorrhoids that protrude through the anus (prolapsed hemorrhoids)

Possible Complications

Complications are rare, but no procedure is completely free of risk. If you are planning to have a hemorrhoidectomy, your doctor will review a list of possible complications, which may include:

• Infection
• Bleeding
• Constipation
• Recurrence of hemorrhoids
• Narrowing of the anal canal
• Loss of bowel or bladder control
• Adverse reaction to local anesthetic

Factors that may increase the risk of complications include:

• Bleeding disorder
• Advanced age
• Prior anal surgery

Call Your Doctor

After arriving home, contact your doctor if any of the following occurs:

• Passing large amounts of blood
• Signs of infection, including fever and chills
• Pain that you cannot control with the medicines you have been given *...