Complications of the Longo Procedure – Rectal Occlusion

Overview

Longo Procedures on hemorrhoids are widely used and standard surgical procedures used in many surgical clinics. Extensive studies, describing benefits and possible complications of the method in a detail, are published in Czech and foreign literature. A wide range of complication rates (5-20%) is reported by individual clinics, however, the rates decrease proportionally to the surgeon’s growing experience and mastering of the method. The complications reported are mostly non-serious, bleeding from stapled sutures is one of the commonest ones. However, more serious complications including suture dehiscence or rectovaginal fistules, are less common. Our case-review presents an unusual complication after the procedure, a blind closure of the rectum with a circular PPH stapler. No similar complication has been found in the available literature.

Key words:
PPH – hemorrhoids – complications – Longo