The Complications of Hemorrhoidectomy From Patients' Perspective: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

Background: Hemorrhoidectomy is a common general surgical procedure with numerous and intensive complications.

Objective: This study sought to investigate the complications of hemorrhoidectomy from the patients' perspective.

Methods: This qualitative study employed a phenomenological approach to explore the experiences of 27 patients with a history of hemorrhoidectomy. Convenience sampling was utilized initially, but purposive sampling was used as the investigation continued. All participants' statements were documented after obtaining informed consent and permission to record their experiences. Interviews were conducted until data saturation was achieved. The interview data was analyzed using content analysis, which involved the systematic extraction, interpretation, and reporting of the concepts and themes in the data.

Results: The study identified three main categories of complications: physical, psychological, and social. Additionally, 26 themes and 56 sub-themes were identified and defined under the main categories. Physical complications (PhCs) included nutritional problems, pain, sleep disturbances, physical weakness, bleeding, fecal incontinence, excretion problems, infection, fissures, anal prolapse, urinary retention, and disease recurrence. Psychological complications (PsCs) included fear, aversion, denial, isolation, depression, boredom, embarrassment, feeling defective, and dependency; Social complications (SCs) included secrecy, irritability, social withdrawal, and inability to perform social roles.

Conclusions: In addition to common PhCs such as pain and bleeding, patients with a history of hemorrhoidectomy face numerous PsCs and SCs that need to be communicated to the patient before deciding on this surgery. Furthermore, doctors should also consider special measures to manage these complications properly.

Keywords: complication; hemorrhoidectomy; patient's perspective; qualitative research.