Biological welding: A rapid and bloodless approach to hemorrhoidectomy

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Traditional hemorrhoidectomy is often associated with problems such as long operation time, excessive bleeding, and slow recovery. As an emerging surgical method, biological welding technology integrates tissue fusion, cutting, and hemostasis, and is expected to overcome the above limitations.

AIM

To evaluate the safety, efficacy, and underlying mechanism of biological welding technology for hemorrhoidectomy in an animal mod.

METHODS

Twenty adult healthy New Zealand rabbits were randomly allocated to two groups: The biological welding group (hemorrhoidectomy performed with biological welding technology) and the control group (traditional excisional hemorrhoidectomy with suturing). Key outcomes including operative time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative complications, histopathological changes, and recovery duration were assessed and compared.

RESULTS

The bio-welding group demonstrated a significantly shorter operation time (44.9 ± 17.2 seconds vs 222.2 ± 43.9 seconds, P < 0.001) and achieved zero intraoperative blood loss (0 g vs 18.75 ± 5.83 g, P < 0.001) compared to the control group. Despite a relatively high local temperature (59.85 ± 5.48 °C), only mild thermal damage occurred. Wound healing was better on post-operative days 7 and 14, with a significantly shorter average recovery time (12.83 ± 1.35 days vs 16.0 ± 1.91 days, P = 0.029). Mechanistic studies revealed that the technology promotes spatial reconstruction of collagen fibers and reduces postoperative inflammation, thereby accelerating orderly tissue repair.

CONCLUSION

Biological welding technology can safely and efficiently perform hemorrhoidectomy, significantly shorten the operation and recovery time, reduce bleeding, and promote tissue healing, showing good prospects for clinical translation.

Keywords: Biological welding; Hemorrhoidectomy; Surgical time; Blood loss; Recovery time; Pathological analysis

Core Tip: This study demonstrates that biological welding technology, which integrates tissue fusion, cutting, and hemostasis into a single procedure, offers a rapid and bloodless approach to hemorrhoidectomy. In a rabbit model, it significantly reduced operative time by approximately 80%, achieved zero intraoperative blood loss, and accelerated postoperative recovery compared to traditional excision and suturing. Mechanistically, it promotes organized tissue repair by remodeling collagen fibers and reducing inflammation. These findings highlight its potential as a safe, efficient, and innovative surgical technique for clinical application in the treatment of hemorrhoids.