Pain assessment following open hemorrhoidectomy under local anesthesia versus saddle block: a multicenter randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND: There is disparity in evidence on pain assessment post open hemorrhoidectomy (OH) using local anesthesia and its use in developing countries compared to developed countries. Therefore, we conducted this study to assess the occurrence of postoperative pain following open hemorrhoidectomy under local anesthesia versus saddle block for uncomplicated 3(rd) or 4(th) degree hemorrhoids. METHODS: This was a prospective equivalence randomized, double blind controlled trial conducted from December 2021 to May 2022 among patients with primary uncomplicated 3(rd) or 4(th) degree hemorrhoids. Pain severity was assessed at 2, 4 and 6 h post open hemorrhoidectomy using visual analogue scale (VAS). Data was analysed using SPSS version 26 at a p < 0.05 as statically significant using visual analogue scale (VAS). RESULTS: We recruited 58 participants in this study who underwent open hemorrhoidectomy under local anesthesia or saddle block (29 participants per group). The sex ratio was of 1.15 of female to male and a mean age of 39 ± 13. VAS was found to be different at 2 h post OH compare to other time of pain assessment but not statically significant by area under the cover (AUC) (95% CI = 486–0.773: AUC = 0.63; p = 0.09) with a none significance by Kruskal–Wallis’s test (p:0.925). CONCLUSION: Local anesthesia was found to be having a similar pain severity occurrence in post operative period among patients undergoing open hemorrhoidectomy for primary uncomplicated 3(rd) or 4(th) degree hemorrhoids. Close monitoring of pain in postoperative period is mandatory especially at 2 h to assess need of analgesia. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Pan African Clinical Trials Registry, PACTR202110667430356. Registered on 8(th) October, 2021.