Is there any specific preoperative preparation for these operations? No. The patient is operated upon the day following hospital admission unless the piles are tremendously swollen and inflamed. If such is the case, bed rest with cold applications to the rectal area is carried out for four to five days prior to operation. Is it difficult to pass urine after operation on the rectum? Yes. For a few days, it is sometimes difficult to start the urinary stream, and in some instances it is necessary to have the urine taken from the bladder by catheterization. Does diet affect condition about the rectum? Yes. Highly seasoned foods and alcohol seem to aggravate rectal conditions and should therefore be avoided. Is special postoperative care required? No. Patients are out of bed within one or two days after surgery and can look after themselves. Any risk of these procedures terminating fatally? No. The risk of a complication from not operating on these conditions is much greater than the surgical risk. Are these operations painful? Yes. For three to five days postoperatively some people suffer considerable pain. This can be relieved by sitting in a hot tub of water or by applying local anesthetic substances to the operative area. The first few stools after this type of surgery are particularly painful. The procedure for removal of a polyp, however is not painful. How soon after surgery will bowel movement return to normal? It may take several weeks before complete normalcy is reestablished. Does childbearing have any affect upon these conditions? Yes. Due to the pressure of the growing child upon the rectal outlet area, pregnancy tends to cause the development of piles. Unless piles are severe and demand immediate attention, surgeons often recommend that they be removed after the woman is finished with childbearing. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | MAIN PAGE