Evaluation of the nursing effect of mirabilite fomentation on postoperative edema, pain, and urinary retention in patients with mixed hemorrhoids

This study aims to investigate the nursing effect of single-agent mirabilite fomentation on postoperative edema, pain, and urinary retention in patients with circumferential mixed hemorrhoids. A retrospective cohort study was conducted including 121 patients who underwent external stripping and internal ligation for circumferential mixed hemorrhoids in our hospital from January 2023 to December 2024. Patients were divided into a mirabilite fomentation group and a control group according to postoperative nursing methods. Propensity score matching was applied to control confounding factors, yielding 72 comparable cases (36 in each group). Observational indicators included postoperative bleeding, anal margin edema, sensation of distension, pain (visual analogue scale), urinary retention and time to first urination, wound healing time, overall efficacy, adverse reactions, and patient satisfaction. After propensity score matching, baseline characteristics were comparable between the 2 groups (P > .05). Compared with the control group, the mirabilite fomentation group had lower bleeding scores on postoperative day 3 and day 7 (group effect F = 5.73, P = .020; interaction F = 4.11, P = .018). The reduction in edema area and height was more pronounced (both P < .05). Declines in the sensation of distension and visual analogue scale pain scores were more significant over time (distension: group effect F = 4.82, P = .031; pain: group effect F = 6.45, P = .014). The incidence of urinary retention was lower in the mirabilite group (11.1% vs 30.6%, P = .044), with shorter time to first urination (8.42 ± 1.25 hours vs 10.17 ± 1.47 hours, P < .001). Wound healing time was reduced (14.53 ± 2.17 days vs 17.06 ± 2.48 days, P < .001). The total effective rate on day 7 was higher (94.4% vs 77.8%, P = .04). No severe adverse reactions were observed in either group, while patient satisfaction was higher in the mirabilite group (91.7% vs 69.4%, P = .021). Mirabilite fomentation as a nursing intervention can significantly alleviate postoperative edema, distension, and pain in patients with circumferential mixed hemorrhoids, reduce the incidence of urinary retention, accelerate wound healing, and achieve good safety and high patient satisfaction. It has clinical value for wider application.