Laxatives after hemorrhoidectomy

Abstract

Thirty patients undergoing a standard Milligan-Morgan hemorrhoidectomy were used for a randomized study of the addition of postoperative laxatives or wheat fiber to the diet. Seventeen patients received wheat fiber; 13 were given a laxative regime of sterculia, magnesium sulfate, and mineral oil. There were no differences between the two groups in preoperative or postoperative bowel habits. Patients receiving wheat fiber had a shorter postoperative hospital stay four days (three to five)vs. five days (three to six), median (range),P<.01, and suffered less pain after defecation on the day of discharge from the hospital (P<.05). Fecal leakage or soiling was seen less frequently with wheat fiber than in patients receiving the laxative regime (5/17vs. 10/13,P<.05). The authors conclude that wheat fiber added to the diet will produce a satisfactory bowel habit after hemorrhoidectomy, with a lower incidence of fecal leakage and reduced pain after defecation than the usual laxative regime.