Trial reportSurgery today2012
Comparison of topical anesthetic cream (EMLA) and diclofenac suppository for pain relief after hemorrhoidectomy: a randomized clinical trial.
Trial report in Surgery today, 2012. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT07688031 (Efficacy and Safety of Topical Lidocaine 23%/Tetracaine 7% Ointment Versus Placebo for Post-Hemorrhoidectomy Pain), which is not on this map. Cited by 11 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Efficacy and Safety of Topical Lidocaine 23%/Tetracaine 7% Ointment Versus Placebo for Post-Hemorrhoidectomy Pain: A Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial
Who cites it
11 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 25 citations in OpenAlex.
- Strategies to Reduce Post-Hemorrhoidectomy Pain: A Systematic Review.Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) · 2022Pooled it
- Topical analgesia following excisional haemorrhoidectomy: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.International journal of colorectal disease · 2020Pooled it
- Evidence-Based Management of Pain After Excisional Haemorrhoidectomy Surgery: A PROSPECT Review Update.World journal of surgery · 2017Pooled it
- Topical Analgesia with Lidocaine Plus Diclofenac Decreases Pain in Benign Anorectal Surgery: Randomized, Double-blind, and Controlled Clinical Trial.Clinical and translational gastroenterology · 2018Trial
- Effects of Topical Atorvastatin (2 %) on Posthemorrhoidectomy Pain and Wound Healing: A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial.World journal of surgery · 2017Trial
- Effects of Reduction of Early Postoperative Anal Pain following Hemorrhoid Surgery with Epidural Anesthesia: A Pilot Study.Journal of the anus, rectum and colon · 2025Article
- "Zhibian (BL54) to Shuidao (ST28)" Acupuncture Manipulation Combined with Analgesics in Postoperative Pain Management for Patients with Mixed Hemorrhoids: A Randomized Controlled Trial Protocol.Journal of pain research · 2025Article
- Review
- Comparison of ointment-based agents after excisional procedures for hemorrhoidal disease: a network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Langenbeck's archives of surgery · 2023Article
- The Standardization of Outpatient Procedure (STOP) Narcotics after anorectal surgery: a prospective non-inferiority study to reduce opioid use.Techniques in coloproctology · 2020Article
- Is the severe pain after Milligan-Morgan hemorrhoidectomy still currently remaining a major postoperative problem despite being one of the oldest surgical techniques described? A case series of 117 consecutive patients.International journal of surgery case reports · 2017Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
4 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
purposeWe compared the efficacy and side effects of diclofenac and a topical eutectic mixture of local anesthetics (EMLA) for pain relief after hemorrhoidectomy.
methodsNinety patients, nominated for elective hemorrhoidectomy, were recruited for this randomized clinical trial and were randomly categorized into three groups (30 patients in each group). After surgery, the patients in the first group received one 100 mg diclofenac suppository, those in the second group received 5 g of EMLA, and those in the third group received 5 g of petrolatum ointment (control group). The pain intensity was measured using a visual analog scale (VAS). Twenty-five mg of intramuscular pethidine was administered upon the patient's request. Pain measurements were performed on the patient's transfer to the recovery ward, 2 h after surgery, the evening and the morning after surgery.
resultsThe EMLA group yielded the lowest VAS score on transfer to recovery and at 2 h after surgery (p < 0.05). The diclofenac group reported the lowest VAS score in the evening and the morning after surgery (p < 0.05).
conclusionsTopical use of an EMLA cream is appropriate for short-term pain control following hemorrhoidectomy, while diclofenac yields a more sustainable pain control.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.