Comparison of the recovery profile of epidural and general anesthesia for hemorrhoidectomy

Background: The aim of the study was to compare the recovery profile of epidural and general anesthesia for hemorrhoidectomy. Methods and patients: Anesthesia and post-anesthetic recovery records of sixty patients undergoing hemorrhoidectomy were reviewed retrospectively. Thirty patients received general anesthesia (group I) and 30 epidural anesthesia (group II). The procedure time, discharge time from the post anesthetic care unit (PACU), demerol required for pain relief in PACU and 24 hours in the ward were recorded and compared using the Kruskal-Wallis test. The incidence of urinary retention, nausea and vomiting were also recorded. Results: There was no different in the age, weight and the operating time between groups. In PACU, 80% of the patients from group I suffered form postoperative pain requiring 22.8 ± 16.9 mg demerol for pain relief, while no patients from group II complained of pain and were discharged to ward significantly earlier. In the ward, the number of patients suffering from pain and the demerol needed were not different in the two groups. Likewise, the incidence of vomiting and urinary retention between groups was also not significantly different. Conclusion: Epidural anesthesia provides prolonged pain relief in the immediate postoperative period in patients undergoing hemorrhoidectomy.