Table 5.
Intraoperative and postoperative complications of laser procedures
| Study | % of intraoperative complications (treatment for the complication if reported) | % of postoperative complications (treatment for the complication if reported) | Follow-up (in months) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bleeding | Bleeding | Hemorrhoidal thrombosis | Infection | Urinary retention | Other | Overall | |||
| Laser hemorrhoidoplasty | |||||||||
| Karahaliloglu et al. 8 | 1.9% (Ø) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Mucosal damage: 0.9% (ligature) | 0.9% | 12 | |
| Jahanshahi et al. 11 | - | 0.6% (suture) | 0 | 0.6% | 0 | Edema: 2.3% | 3.5% | 12 | |
| Brusciano et al. 12 | 0 | 64% (Ø)b | 0 | 0 | 0 | 64% | 8.6a | ||
| Plapler et al. 13 |
LH HC |
- | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Burn lesion: 26.7% Plicoma/skin tag: 33.3% 0 |
60% 0% |
1 |
| Naderan et al. 14 |
LH HC |
12.8 ± 4.5 22.8 ± 8.3c, d |
10% (cons.) 30% (cons.) |
6.7% (cons.) 0% |
0 |
3.3% 10% |
20% 40% |
12 | |
| Alsisy et al. 15 |
LH HC |
15.5 ± 4.8 36.5 ± 7.2c, d |
0 3.3% (packing and hemostatic drug) |
10% (cons.) 0 |
0 10% (antibiotherapy) |
0 13.3%d |
0 Anal stenosis: 13.3% (lateral sphincterotomy) d |
10% 40% |
3 |
| Poskus et al. 16 | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | 12 | ||
| Hemorrhoidal laser procedure | |||||||||
| Salfi et al. 9 | 8.5% (1% ligation, 7.5% laser) | 0.5%e | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.5% | 12 | ||
| Giamundo et al. 17 | 13.4% (6.7% laser, 6.7% suture) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | 5.8 (1–12)a | ||
| Crea et al. 18 | 12.4% (9.3% laser, 3.1% suture) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | 15 (6–30)∏ | ||
| De Nardi et al. 19 | 5.9% (2% laser, 3.9% suture) | 7.8% | 7.8% | 0 | 0 | 15.6% | 26.3 ± 9.1a | ||
| Boarini et al. 20 | 5.5% (laser) | 20% (Ø) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20% | 6 | ||
| Giamundo et al. 21 | 8.8% (2.5% Ø or laser, 6.3% ligature or suture) | 3.5% (flavonoid) | 1.4% | 0 | 0 |
Anismus: 1.4% Sensation of incomplete evacuation: 3.1% (Ø) |
9.4% | 12 | |
| Giamundo et al. 22 |
HeLP RBL |
16.7%: (10% surgical, 6.7% laser) 10% (3.3% surgical) |
23.3% (Ø) 26.7% (Ø) |
0 | 0 | 0 |
23.3% 26.7% |
6 | |
“-” not available, cons. conservative, Ø = no treatment
aExpressed as mean ± SD or (range)
bPost-defecatory bleeding only, and stopped spontaneously from the 7th postoperative day, 0% of spontaneous bleeding
cExpressed in volume (mean milliliters ± standard deviation)
dThe difference was statistically significant
eAdditional 11.0% of discharge was described. They were not considered as complications since it did not cause discomfort, and it disappeared within 30 days. Moreover, it was not specified whether the discharge consisted of blood or mucous