Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41024481›Full record

ArticleAnnals of coloproctology2025

Propensity score-matched comparative study of radiofrequency ablation (with the Rafaelo device) versus hemorrhoidectomy for the treatment of grades II-III internal hemorrhoids.

Thanat Tantinam, Pawit Sutharat, Suwan Sanmee, Ekkarin Supatrakul, Kullawat Bhatanaprabhabhan, Boonchai Ngamsirimas, Nataphon Santrakul, Rangsima Thiengthiantham, Punnawat Chandrachamnong

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Annals of coloproctology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from 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.

2 · The registry

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.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Radiofrequency Ablation for Hemorrhoidal Disease.Life (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026
    Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Thanat TantinamSurgical Unit, Phatthalung Hospital, Phatthalung, Thailand.
Pawit SutharatDivision of Colorectal Surgery and Clinical Surgical Research Center, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Suwan SanmeeDivision of Colorectal Surgery and Clinical Surgical Research Center, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Ekkarin SupatrakulDivision of Colorectal Surgery and Clinical Surgical Research Center, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Kullawat BhatanaprabhabhanDivision of Colorectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Vajira Hospital, Navamindradhiraj University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Boonchai NgamsirimasDivision of Colorectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Vajira Hospital, Navamindradhiraj University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Nataphon SantrakulDivision of Colorectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Vajira Hospital, Navamindradhiraj University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Rangsima ThiengthianthamDivision of Colorectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Vajira Hospital, Navamindradhiraj University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Punnawat ChandrachamnongDivision of Colorectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Vajira Hospital, Navamindradhiraj University, Bangkok, Thailand.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeHemorrhoidal disease impacts quality of life, with hemorrhoidectomy being the standard treatment for grades II-III hemorrhoids. Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) using the Rafaelo technique offers a less invasive alternative; however, comparative data remain limited. This study evaluated short-term outcomes following RFA versus conventional hemorrhoidectomy.

methodsA single-center retrospective cohort study was conducted at a medical university hospital in Thailand, involving patients who underwent either RFA or hemorrhoidectomy between January 2023 and September 2024. Propensity score matching was utilized to minimize selection bias. Primary outcomes were postoperative pain and opioid consumption.

resultsAfter propensity score matching, 102 patients were analyzed (51 patients in each group). Baseline characteristics were well-balanced between the 2 groups. The RFA group had higher pain scores at 8 hours postoperatively (1 vs. 0, P=0.002) but lower scores at 20 hours (0 vs. 1, P<0.001). Opioid consumption was significantly lower in the RFA group (9.8% vs. 31.4%, P=0.007), with a reduced morphine-equivalent dose (0.7 mg vs. 3.5 mg, P=0.003). Additionally, the RFA group had a shorter operative time (20 minutes vs. 30 minutes, P<0.001) and less intraoperative blood loss (0 mL vs. 5 mL, P<0.001). Hospital stays and complication rates were comparable between groups.

conclusionRFA resulted in improved postoperative pain control, reduced opioid use, shorter operative duration, and decreased blood loss compared to hemorrhoidectomy, with similar hospital stay durations and complication rates.

Indexed as

HemorrhoidectomyHemorrhoidsRadiofrequency ablation

Identifiers

PMID41024481
PMCPMC12569778

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC
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Registered trials

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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.