Double blinded randomized placebo-controlled comparative study between sucralfate ointment and lidocaine ointment after Milligan Morgan hemorrhoidectomy
Background: Post haemorrhoidectomy pain and delayed wound healing are the most annoying drawbacks to the patients and the surgeons. Topical application of sucralfate or lidocaine may help in reducing postoperative pain and promoting wound healing after Milligan Morgan hemorrhoidectomy.Methods: This study was designed as a single-center double blinded randomized placebo controlled trial at the Department of general Surgery Menoufia University, immediately after Milligan Morgan Hemorrhoidectomy, a total of 150 patients were randomly assigned to receive either 10% Sucralfate ointment, 5% lidocaine ointment or placebo ointment (control group). The primary outcome measure was pain intensity measured by a visual analogue scale at different time points after hemorrhoidectomy and the secondary outcome measure was wound healing.Results: There was no significant difference in age, gender, and number of excised hemorrhoid piles between the two groups. At the 1st ,3rd and 7th days after surgery pain intensity was significantly lower in sucralfate group (4.18±0.82, 3.92±0.72, 3.56±0.67) when compared to lidocaine group (5.06±1.11, 4.70±0.84, 3.93±0.75) and placebo group (6.17±1.26, 5.42±0.98, 4.55±0.84). At the 21st and 28th days no significant difference in pain intensity between groups (p > 0.05) with better wound healing in sucralfate group (P<0.05).Conclusions: Sucralfate was able to reduce the acute postoperative pain and improve wound healing after hemorrhoidectomy, local anesthetic lidocaine could help in pain control but without effect on healing.