Abstract
A study of 50 patients undergoing haemorrhoidectomy under general anaesthesia in Reading was undertaken. Half the patients received, in addition, a caudal anaesthetic given by the surgeon at the beginning of the operation with the patient in the lithotomy position. The rest of the patients had no form of local anaesthetic. The amount of analgesia needed, general comfort after the operation, and the number of days after surgery of the first bowel movement were recorded. The use of caudal anaesthesia resulted in a 79% reduction in the number of doses of papaveretum needed by the patients after the operation and a reduction by half in the period of postoperative constipation. Possible reasons for the latter finding are discussed. The possible risks of caudal anaesthesia are considered, but it is concluded that they are far outweighed by the benefits obtained.
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