What can go wrong with the haemorroidectomy operation?
Haemorrhoidectomy is generally a very safe operation and is associated with few risks. However, as with any surgical procedure, complications do occur occasionally, and about 2% of patients need to have a second anaesthetic to attend to a complication. Immediately after the operation, 10-20% of patients find it difficult to pass urine and a catheter might be required to empty the bladder. Approximately 5% of patients experience more bleeding than expected, and might need to be readmitted to hospital either for simple observation or, rarely, for another operation. Infection is very rare, which is surprising considering the site of the operation. The stitches (sutures) that are used to close the tissues sometimes separate, leaving an open wound; if this happens, you should not be worried because healing will still take place rapidly. In the long term, the recurrence of symptoms is rare, although a few patients might develop skin tags, which do not usually require any special treatment. I
