CLINICAL OUTCOMES AND COST REDUCTION IN SURGICAL TREATMENT OF HEMORRHOIDS USING ULTRASONIC DISSECTION

Abstract

Conventional hemorrhoidectomy is associated with significant postoperative pain, prolonged wound healing and a long period of disability, all of which increase the overall cost of treatment. Ultrasonic dissection (the harmonic scalpel) provides low-temperature coagulation with minimal lateral thermal spread; however, the balance between its higher consumable cost and the potential savings from shorter hospital stay and faster recovery requires evaluation.