386 Is the Routine Histopathology of Haemorrhoidectomy Specimens Cost Effective?

Abstract

Abstract Introduction The necessity for routine histopathologic evaluation of hemorrhoidectomy specimens has been controversial, yet it is commonplace in many hospitals. The cost effectiveness was analysed in a regional hospital in Queensland. Our secondary aim was to also determine the incidence of unexpected abnormality in haemorrhoidectomy specimens. Method This is a retrospective study between March 21st 2012 – April 30th 2020 in a regional hospital in Queensland, and approved by the Health Service Human Research Ethics Committee as a low risk research project. We used Operating Room Management Information System (ORMIS) to obtain a total number of 122 haemorrhoidectomies. The cost of histopathological analysis of a haemorrhoidectomy specimen is AUD$174.65. Results We found that 122 haemorrhoidectomies were performed over the study period. Of these, 66.39% (n = 81) haemorrhoidectomy specimens were sent for routine histopathology. 84.4% (n = 103) were done via the Milligan-Morgan technique. There was intra-operative suspicion of abnormality in 2 cases; histology showed no dysplasia. In total, no specimens had any evidence of dysplasia or neoplasia. Conclusions Routine pathological evaluation of hemorrhoidectomy specimens is not useful and is expensive, as unsuspected anal carcinoma is a rare occurrence and was not demonstrable in the study period. However, a careful pre-operative examination should be performed as unsuspected carcinoma of the anus diagnosed solely by microscopic analysis has been described in the literature. Any suspicious areas should be sent for microscopic evaluation. At a cost of AUD$174.65 per specimen, approximately AUD$1,768.33 could have been saved per annum, or AUD$14,146.65 in 8 years.