International Journal of Colorectal Disease © Springer-Verlag 2003 DOI 10.1007/s00384-003-0517-9 Original Article Comparison of early and 1-year follow-up results of conventional hemorrhoidectomy and hemorrhoid artery ligation: a randomized study Attila Bursics (✉) · Krisztina Morvay · Péter Kupcsulik · Lajos Flautner A. Bursics · K. Morvay · P. Kupcsulik · L. Flautner First Department of Surgery, Semmelweis University, 1082 Budapest, Hungary ✉ A. Bursics Phone: +36-20-9285313 Fax: +36-1-2100794 E-mail: bu@seb1.sote.hu Accepted: 14 May 2003 Abstract Background and aims Doppler-guided hemorrhoid artery ligation is a new approach for treating hemorrhoids. Early and 1-year follow-up results of the procedure are presented and compared with those of closed scissors hemorrhoidectomy in a prospective randomized study. Patients and methods Sixty consecutively recruited patients were randomized into two groups: group A (n=30) was treated with standardized closed scissors hemorrhoidectomy and group B (n=30) with Doppler-guided hemorrhoid artery ligation. The follow-up period was 11.7±4.6 months. Results The average need for minor analgesics was 11.7±12.6 doses in group A and 2.9±7.7 in group B. Patients in group A spent 62.9±29.0 hours in hospital postoperatively and those in group B 19.8±41.8 hours. Return to normal daily activities took 24.9±24.5 days in group A and 3.0±5.5 days in group B. Neither the disappearance (26 vs. 25 patients) nor the recurrence of preoperative symptoms (5 vs. 6 patients) differed significantly between the two groups. 1