Hemorrhoidectomy

[mabledsecttcsngq]

A little background before I pose my question.

The wife has had external hemorrhoids (and I guess internal as well) since our first child in 1976.

There never had been any “serious” issues with either of those until about two years ago. She had some bleeding from the internal ones and after many types of failed treatments it was decided to use the staple method to eradicate the internal problem (nothing at that time was done regarding the externals as they were not posing problems.)

Things were fine after the stapling. Now jump forward two years.

About six weeks ago, she experienced new bleeding from within and an examination revealed an internal fissure. She was treated with the prescribed internally injected foam without out great success.

So, after further consultations with the rectal surgeon, she opted to go the surgical Hemorrhoidectomy route. AND THIS TIME she also asked the surgeon to remove the external hemorrhoids as well.

The surgery was performed outpatient on 22Aug07 and was declared to be successful.

It now is 2Sep07 and when one views the “aftermath” where once was a constricted and closed anal orifice surrounded by external hemorrhoids one now sees a gapping orifice that a golf ball could easily fit into. One does not see any signs of the “outer” inner sphincter muscle and now feces passes unimpeded and without warning.

My question: Post hemorrhoidectomy surgery, is the anal orifice “normally” that “wide open?” Or is this:

1)the results of a “radical” hemorrhoidectomy (if there is such a procedure),

2) a situation where sutures have prematurely come loose, allowing a gapping opening; or,

3) the normal post hemorrhoidectomy healing process that will eventually, with time, close by itself?

Any assistance with this would be greatly appreciated. We have gone back to the attending surgeon and he is quite well pleased with what he sees. We are debating if we need for her to be seen by another rectal surgeon just to be sure this is “normal” and not the aftermath of a surgery gone awry and the attending physician is not being straight forward.

[UroDoc]

Generally speaking it takes 6 weeks to get an idea of what the results of any surgical healing to take place. Given the short time since surgery this maybe normal. In some case of rectal surgery the sphincter is dilated so that no back pressure is placed on the repair,the dilatation lasts for a short time and then goes back to normal. If your still concerned and not seeing any improvement in the next few weeks a second opinion maybe a good idea. If you go right now they will probable tell you to wait 6 weeks and see what happens, good luck.

[mabledsecttcsngq]

UroDoc, thanks for the rapid reply.

We were leaning towards waiting three more weeks before seeking a second opinion but thought, since neither of us know anyone who has "experienced" this form of surgery, we should throw it out there so that others who may have more experience in this area could respond.

Again, thanks for the rapid reply. We will be back once the procedure is declared healed for an update as to the end results (pun intended).

[polena]

a second opinion is a must