Diltiazem tópico en el dolor postoperatorio de hemorroidectomía con técnica cerrada

Background Anal sphincter spasm contributes to the appearance of postoperative pain following hemorrhoidectomy. Aim To determine the efficacy of topical diltiazem in the control of post-hemorrhoidectomy pain. Material and methods A randomized, prospective, experimental, double-blind study was conducted on 2 groups of patients in the postoperative period of closed hemorrhoidectomy. Each group consisted of 17 patients. Group A received topical diltiazem in the anal region 3 times a day and group B received a placebo. Ketorolac was administered to both groups as rescue therapy. Results In group A, the mean score on the visual analog scale was 2.97 ± 1.18 cm at 24 h, 1.51 ± 1.18 cm at 48 h, and 0.84 ± 0.92 cm at 72 h. In group B, it was 6.82 ± 1.9 cm at 24 h, 5.3 ± 1.66 cm at 48 h, and 4.32 ± 2.13 cm at 72 h (P<.001, 95% CI). The mean number of analgesic doses in group A was 2.41 ± 0.87 at 24 h, 1.11 ± 0.85 at 48 h, and 0.94 ± 0.96 at 72 h. In group B, it was 3.82 ± 0.52 at 24 h, 3.64 ± 0.70 at 48 h, and 2.88 ± 1.26 at 72 h (P<.001, 95% CI). Conclusions In this study, topical administration of diltiazem resulted in a statistically significant reduction of postoperative pain in patients that underwent closed hemorrhoidectomy.