Ice Therapy and Warm Baths for Hemorrhoidectomy Wound Care

Launched by E-DA HOSPITAL · Jun 11, 2024

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This study is comparing two ways to care for the site after hemorrhoid removal surgery: cold therapy (ice packs) versus warm water sits baths. It’s a randomized trial, meaning people are assigned by chance to one of the two groups, with about 120–128 participants total. The main thing researchers will look at is pain in the first 3 days after surgery and how much pain medicine people use. They’ll also check wound healing and swelling, especially around 1 week after surgery.

Who can join? Adults 18–75 with symptomatic hemorrhoids needing surgical removal, who can follow the study procedures. Exclusions include pregnancy, allergies to cold or warm therapy, blood clotting problems or ongoing anticoagulant treatment, serious organ disease, immune problems, other anorectal surgeries planned, language or cognitive barriers, or participation in another trial. If eligible, you’d either apply ice packs for 20 minutes every 2 hours in the first 48 hours, or do warm sittings baths 2–3 times daily for 15–20 minutes for 7 days, starting after surgery. The study is at E-Da Hospital in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, and results could help guide which method offers better pain relief and healing after hemorrhoid surgery. No individual data will be shared with outside researchers, and safety monitoring is in place.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Age 18-75 years Diagnosed with symptomatic hemorrhoids requiring surgical removal Able to understand and comply with the trial procedures
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Pregnant or lactating women Known allergy to cold or warm therapy Coagulation disorders or receiving anticoagulant therapy Severe organ dysfunction (cardiac, pulmonary, hepatic, renal, etc.) Immunocompromised or receiving immunosuppressive therapy Other anorectal surgery within the past 1 month Concomitant anorectal diseases (e.g., anal fistula, anal fissure) requiring additional surgical treatment Cognitive impairment, psychiatric illness, or language barrier preventing compliance Currently participating in another clinical trial