ORIGINAL CONTRIBUTION Long-term Results After Stapled Hemorrhoidopexy: A Prospective Study With a 6-Year Follow-up
A. Ommer, M.D.1 • Jakob Hinrichs, M.D.1 • Horst Mo¨llenberg, M.D.1Babji Marla, M.D.2 • Martin Karl Walz, M.D.1
1 Department for Surgery and Center for Minimally Invasive Surgery, Kliniken Essen-Mitte, Evang. Huyssens-Stiftung, Essen,
2 Center for Proctology, Essen-Ru¨ttenscheid, Essen, Germany
BACKGROUND: Stapled hemorrhoidopexy was
patients (87.1%) were satisfied or very satisfied with the
introduced in 1998 as a new technique for treating
operation outcome; 19 patients (8.5%) were moderately
advanced hemorrhoidal disease. Despite a clear
satisfied; and 10 (4.5%) were not satisfied. Regarding
perioperative advantage regarding pain and patient
preoperative anal symptoms, complete relief was
comfort, literature reviews indicate a higher recurrence
observed in 179 patients (80.6%) for prolapse, 172
rate for stapled hemorrhoidopexy than for conventional
(77.5%) for bleeding, 139 (85.3%) for mucus discharge,
139 (78.5%) for burning sensation, and 115 (75.5%) foritching. Considering all recorded symptoms, 194 patients
OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to present long-term on the use
(86.6%) reported absence and or an improvement at
follow-up. Twelve patients (5.4%) reported newly
DESIGN: Observational study.
developed incontinence in the sense of urge symptoms;42 patients out of 51 patients (82.4%) with preexisting
SETTING AND PATIENTS: Consecutive patients with
incontinence reported an improvement. Local or topical
hemorrhoid prolapse treated at a regional surgical centerfrom May 27, 1999, through December 31, 2003.
retreatment (ointment, suppositories, sclerotherapy) wasperformed in 48 patients (21.4%). Reoperation for
INTERVENTION: Stapled hemorrhoidopexy with
residual or newly developed hemorrhoidal nodules was
accompanying resection of residual hemorrhoidal
LIMITATIONS: Lack of a comparative group. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Standardized patient questionnaire regarding satisfaction, resolution of CONCLUSION: Our long-term results show that this
symptoms, and performance of further interventions.
strategy for stapled hemorrhoidopexy can achieve a highlevel of patient satisfaction and symptom control, with a
RESULTS: Of 257 patients (82 female, 175 male, mean age
low rate of reoperation for recurrent hemorrhoidal
53 Ϯ 13 years) undergoing stapled hemorrhoidopexy,
follow-up data were available for 224 patients (87.2%)with a mean duration of 6.3 Ϯ 1.2 years. Of these, 195
KEY WORDS: Hemorrhoidal disease; Bleeding; Prolapse; Stapled hemorrhoidopexy; Incontinence; Long-term results. Financial Disclosure: None reported. Correspondence: A. Ommer, M.D., Department for Surgery and Center for Minimally Invasive Surgery, Kliniken Essen-Mitte, Evang. Huyssens- Stiftung, Henricistr. 92, D-45134 Essen, Germany. E-mail: aommer@ online.de
Stapledhemorrhoidopexywasintroducedin1998asa
gentle new technique for treating advanced hemor-rhoidal disease.1 Unlike conventional surgical tech-
niques, this procedure did not aim to remove but to repo-sition the prolapsed hemorrhoidal tissue. In several
studies, this procedure was reported to offer advantages
DOI: 10.1007/DCR.0b013e3182098df2The ASCRS 2011
with regard to postoperative pain and length of in-patient
DISEASES OF THE COLON & RECTUM VOLUME 54: 5 (2011)
OMMER ET AL: LONG-TERM RESULTS AFTER HEMORRHOIDOPEXY
stay.2–7 However, recent reviews note a higher rate of re-
TABLE 1. Accompanying procedures performed during
currence with stapled hemorrhoidopexy than with con-
anesthesia in 257 patients undergoing stapled
ventional methods in short-term follow-up.8–12 In our
hospital, stapled hemorrhoidopexy was previously estab-
lished as an integral part of hemorrhoid treatment in 1999.
This circumstance provided the impetus for presenting
our experiences and long-term results with this surgical
PATIENTS AND METHODS
The study included consecutive patients who underwent
stapled hemorrhoidopexy at our institution from May 27,1999, through December 31, 2003. The indication forthe procedure was nonfixed circumferential hemorrhoid
women; mean age (Ϯ SD), 53 Ϯ 13 (range, 19 – 88) years.
This group included approximately 70% of all patients un-
Perioperative data were collected retrospectively for
dergoing surgical intervention for grade III hemorrhoidal
patients treated before September 2001 and prospectively
disease in our hospital. The perioperative data were col-
for patients treated after this date. The following variables
lected retrospectively for 78 patients (30.4%) treated be-
were recorded: age, gender, grade of hemorrhoidal disease,
fore September 2001 and prospectively for 179 patients
previous treatment, local symptoms, continence disorders
(classified according to Parks13 as grade 1, incontinence of
Of the total 257 patients, 70 (27.2%) had been previ-
gas; grade 2, incontinence of gas and liquid stool; or grade
ously treated only by topical measures (ointments or sup-
3, incontinence of gas, liquid, and solid stool), and defeca-
positories); 168 patients (65.4%) had previously under-
tory disorders such as obstructed defecation or slow-tran-
gone sclerotherapy; 6 patients (2.3%) had undergone
sit constipation. When necessary, slow-transit constipa-
minor surgical procedures such as hemorrhoidal artery li-
tion was confirmed by measurement of intestinal transit
gation, rubber band ligation, or thrombectomy; and 13
time with the Hinton test,14 for which patients received
patients (5.1%) had undergone a previous hemorrhoid op-
pellets with 10 markers each from days 1 to 6, and an x-ray
eration (Parks or Milligan-Morgan procedure in 12, sta-
of the abdomen on day 7. A passage time of more than 60
pled hemorrhoidopexy in 1 patient). Local symptoms
hours led to the diagnosis of slow-transit constipation.
noted were intermittent anal bleeding or prolapse of hem-
The operating procedure was performed with a
orrhoidal tissue or anal mucosa in 255 patients (99.2%),
PPH-01 stapler from Ethicon Endo-Surgery (Norderstedt,
mucus discharge in 179 (69.5%), burning sensation in 198
Germany), as described in the literature.1 The operations
(77.0%), and itching in 129 patients (50.2%). A total of 63
were performed under general anesthesia or spinal anes-
patients (24.5%) had continence disorders (Parks classifi-
thesia. Intraoperative colonoscopy was offered to all pa-
cation grade 1 in 50 (19.5%), grade 2 in 12 (4.7%), and
tients who had not undergone recent colonic diagnostic
grade 3 in 1 patient (0.4%). There was evidence of a def-
examination. In the prospectively evaluated patients, pain
ecatory disorder in 103 patients (40.1%): 93 patients
intensity was assessed on a visual analog scale from 1 to 10.
(36.2%) had signs of obstructive defecation disorder (in-
A standardized follow-up questionnaire was mailed to
creased straining, incomplete evacuation) and 10 patients
patients or filled out at an outpatient clinic visit. If the
(3.9%) had slow transit constipation confirmed by the
questionnaire was not returned, patients were asked to
complete the questionnaire in a telephone interview. Thequestionnaire contained items concerning satisfaction,
Perioperative Period
current symptoms, fecal continence, defecatory disorders,
The mean operating time was 17 Ϯ 7 minutes. Of the 257
therapeutic interventions for recurrence, and questions re-
operations, 238 (92.6%) were performed under general
garding patients’ retrospective assessment of the painful-
anesthesia, with only 19 (7.4%) performed under spinal
ness of the stapled hemorrhoidopexy procedure.
anesthesia. Procedures accompanying the stapled hemor-rhoidopexy are listed in Table 1. In 3 patients (1.2%), the
RESULTS
row of staples had to be oversewn with interrupted suturesbecause of partial dehiscence. In 18 patients (7.0%), resid-
Patient Characteristics
ual hemorrhoidal nodules that had not been perfectly re-
Stapled hemorrhoidopexy was performed in 257 consecu-
positioned were removed by conventional resection (Table
tive patients with grade III hemorrhoids: 175 men, 82
1). No other intraoperative complications were observed.
DISEASES OF THE COLON & RECTUM VOLUME 54: 5 (2011)
TABLE 2. Postoperative urinary retention in 257 patients undergoing stapled hemorrhoidopexy
bPlacement of indwelling catheter for 1 night or more.
Bleeding complications requiring surgical intervention oc-
curred in 10 patients (3.9%). A total of 51 patients (19.8%)had urinary retention (Table 2).
Reoperations in the early postoperative phase up to 3
months were required in 6 patients (2.7%): 1 male patienthad hemorrhoidal thrombosis on postoperative day 12, 1female patient received ventral mucosectomy because of
incomplete repositioning, in 1 female patient the ventral
staple was split after 3 weeks because of a defecatory disor-der, and 3 patients had anal revision because of local pain. FIGURE 2. Perioperative analgesic consumption (additional opioid/
Two of the early reoperations involved conventional resec-
metamizole analgesia requirement) in addition to backgroundanalgesia with a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug. Data were
tion of residual, imperfectly repositioned nodules. No rel-
collected retrospectively for 78 patients and prospectively for 179
evant wound infections or stenoses of the row of staples
All patients received background analgesia with a non-
steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (e.g., diclofenac). Addi-tional consumption of analgesics (metamizole, tramadol,
influence on the pain score, whereas patients with an ac-
or possibly piritramide) was low: 170 patients (66%) man-
companying anal procedure (extensive anal tag removal,
aged without additional analgesics on the first postopera-
fissurectomy, or conventional resection of residual hemor-
tive day, and 203 (79%) on the second postoperative day
rhoidal nodules) tended to have higher pain scores than
those without (day 0, 5.2 vs 4.5; day 2, 2.5 vs 2.1). The mean
In the 179 prospectively evaluated patients, the mean
inpatient hospital stay was 4.2 Ϯ 1.7 (1–14) days. The
pain intensity score on the visual analog scale was 4.7 Ϯ 2.4
length of hospital stay was related to changes in the Ger-
on the day of the operation, 3.0 Ϯ 1.0 on the first postop-
man hospital financing system, which after 2003 paid for a
erative day, and 2.3 Ϯ 1.5 on the second postoperative day.
stay of 2 nights for this surgical category according to the
An intraoperative colonoscopy (air insufflation) had no
DRG-system, whereas previously the hospital was paid foreach day at the hospital. Follow-up Evaluation
A total of 224 (87.2%) of the 257 patients were included in
the follow-up analyses. Of these, 89 patients (39.7%) re-turned the questionnaire by mail, 81 (36.2%) completed
the questionnaire at a clinic visit, and 54 patients (24.1%)
completed a phone interview. Follow-up data were notavailable for 33 patients (12.8%): 8 patients died of an un-
related cause, and 25 patients had moved away without aforwarding address. The mean follow-up period was 6.3
1.2 (median, 6; range, 4.2–9.5) years (Fig. 1).
Of the 224 patients included in the follow-up evalua-
tion, 141 (62.9%) stated that they were “very satisfied”with the outcome, 54 patients (24.1%) reported being “sat-
isfied,” 19 patients (8.5%) were only moderately satisfied,
and 10 patients (4.5%) were dissatisfied. The relationshipbetween satisfaction and residual symptoms or reinterven-
FIGURE 1. Length of follow-up for 224 patients after stapled hemorrhoidopexy for advanced hemorrhoidal disease.
OMMER ET AL: LONG-TERM RESULTS AFTER HEMORRHOIDOPEXY
TABLE 3. Number of patients with residual symptoms or reintervention in relation to degree of satisfaction with the surgical procedure
Data are number of patients with residual symptoms or reintervention as a proportion of patients for whom data were available in each satisfaction category, with percent-ages in parentheses.
Most preoperative hemorrhoidal problems had been
132 patients (58.9%) had no problems. A total of 92
resolved at follow-up (Table 4). Overall, approximately
(41.1%) patients had preexisting disorders, which had im-
80% of patients with bleeding or prolapse before surgery
proved in 62 patients (27.7% of the follow-up group), re-
were completely symptom-free at follow-up, and approx-
mained unchanged in 26 (11.6%), and worsened in 4
imately 15% showed improvement. In patients with both
(1.8%). Three patients (1.3%) reported a newly developed
bleeding and prolapse, 69.9% were completely symptom-
defecatory disorder. No anal stenosis was detected in any of
free and 90.2% were asymptomatic or improved at follow-
these cases. One additional female patient could be cured
up. Taking into account all the recorded hemorrhoidal
by cutting the ventral staple line in a rectocele.
symptoms, 194 (86.6%) of the patients were symptom-free
Follow-up evaluations showed that repeat hemor-
rhoid operations had been performed in a total of 8 (3.6%)
Of the 224 patients for whom follow-up data were
of the 224 patients. In addition to the 2 early reoperations,
available, 52 patients (23.2%) had fecal continence prob-
5 repeat hemorrhoid operations involved conventional re-
lems: Preoperative problems had improved in 42 patients
section of residual, imperfectly repositioned nodules be-
(18.8% of the follow-up group), remained unchanged in
tween 2 and 4 years after the first operation, and 1 case
6 patients (2.7%), and had worsened in 4 patients (1.8%).
involved repeated stapled hemorrhoidopexy 4 years after
New problems, mainly urge incontinence, developed in
the first procedure in a mentally disabled patient with a
11 patients (4.9%). With regard to defecation disorders,
severe defecatory disorder, because of a recurrent prolapse
TABLE 4. Postoperative hemorrhoidal symptoms at long-term follow-up in relation to preoperative status
DISEASES OF THE COLON & RECTUM VOLUME 54: 5 (2011)
caused by excessive straining. Secondary removal of anal
more recent report26 found these problems to be generally
skin tags was performed in 7 patients (3.1%). Four other
patients had another anal operation unrelated to the pre-
In our patient population, the complication rate for
vious operation during the follow-up observation period
stapled hemorrhoidopexy was low. Although the overall
(fissurectomy in 3, abscess excision in 1). Reapplication of
rates for rebleeding and urinary retention for the entire
topical or local ointments, suppositories, or intermittent
study appear relatively high, it should be noted that the
sclerotherapy was required for another 50 patients (22.3%).
study period included the learning curves of the responsi-
Of the 224 patients asked at follow-up to evaluate their
ble surgeons. Evaluation of patients who underwent this
remembered postoperative pain experience, 52 (23.2%)
operation between 2007 and 2009 showed that improve-
reported not having experienced any pain, and pain sever-
ments in the operating technique and perioperative anal-
ity was rated as mild in 117 (52.2%), more severe in 45
gesia greatly reduced the number of patients with urinary
(20.1%), and “almost unbearable” in 10 patients (4.5%).
retention to 10% (6% requiring catheter placement, 4%
These data were consistent with the pain scores recorded
medication; data not shown). No life-threatening compli-
on the visual analog scale during the early postoperative
cations were observed, and the rate of early reoperations
period: The mean pain score on the second postoperative
was low at 2.7%, including patients with reintervention for
day was 1.7 for those who retrospectively reported having
incomplete repositioning or anal pain.
had no pain, 1.9 for those who reported having had mild
Our study also showed a low pain intensity associated
pain, 2.7 for those with severe pain, and 3.6 for those who
with stapled hemorrhoidopexy. It is interesting to note
that, although 75% of patients retrospectively reported
The mean period of incapacity for work from the day
having had only mild pain, 4.5% remembered very severe
of the operation was 18.7 Ϯ 13.4 (median, 15; range,
pain, which was also verified by the pain scores recorded
perioperatively. Intensive pain medication thereforeseems to be essential to meet the needs of some patients. DISCUSSION
However, pain sensation is a highly subjective feeling. This is reflected in the wide variation in the time to
An advantage in regard to perioperative pain and patient
resume work, which was ranged from 3 to 106 days after
comfort has been found for stapled hemorrhoidopexy
compared with other surgical methods in numerous ran-
Equally interesting are the findings relating to fecal
domized trials.9–12 However, in 2004, Nisar et al15 pointed
continence: 4.5% of patients complained of persistent urge
out the limited long-term results with stapled hemorrhoi-
incontinence, which is consistent with the experiences of
dopexy and declared that conventional hemorrhoid sur-
other authors.26 At the same time, however, a large num-
gery remained the “gold standard” for management of
ber of patients with preexisting incontinence reported an
hemorrhoids. Stapled hemorrhoidopexy was rated as
improvement. The removal of an internal mucosal pro-
less effective than hemorrhoidectomy, with its advan-
lapse by the mucosal resection may have played a decisive
tage lying mainly in the lower intensity of perioperative
role in this improvement. Similar results were found for
pain. Despite the advantages of stapled hemorrhoid-
defecation, which were consistent with the report by Bona
opexy in relation to postoperative pain, operating time,
et al27 regarding outlet obstruction.
and faster convalescence, numerous studies found
The available publications and resulting reviews of sta-
higher rates of reintervention and recurrent pro-
pled hemorrhoidopexy largely deal with short-term results
lapse.8,10,12,16 –18 However, such reviews have provoked
(up to 2 years postoperatively), and long-term results con-
tinue to be rare. Jongen et al28 reported a long-term reop-
The extensive discussion of stapled hemorrhoidopexy
eration rate of 3.4% for persistence or recurrence of hem-
has also been stimulated by numerous publications con-
orrhoidal prolapse. In a study of 216 patients in which 193
cerning complications. A collection of adverse events after
(89%) were followed for a median period of 28 months,
hemorrhoid operations, which was published in 2006,20
Fuegisthaler et al29 observed a high satisfaction rate of
mentioned 7 cases of retroperitoneal sepsis after stapled
89%. However, these authors pointed out a very high rate
hemorrhoidopexy, 1 with a fatal outcome. This is un-
of residual symptoms: persistent prolapse in 24%, fecal
doubtedly a procedure that makes high technical demands
urgency in 40%, pain in 25%, and local discomfort in 38%,
on the surgeon.21,22 Notably, incontinence—the compli-
with a reoperation rate of 5%. The main symptoms had
cation most feared by patients— has been reported in 0%
disappeared in 66% and improved in 28%. A Danish pub-
to 28% of patients after stapled hemorrhoidopexy.23 Reop-
lication30 in 258 patients with a median follow-up of 34
erations described in the literature mainly occurred the
months also described high patient satisfaction, but no fur-
immediate postoperative period.24 Although a high num-
ther details are given. Interventions because of recurrence
ber of patients with urge incontinence and persistent pain
were mainly performed in the first year: 12% of the
have been reported after stapled hemorrhoidopexy,25 a
patients underwent repeat stapled hemorrhoidopexy and
OMMER ET AL: LONG-TERM RESULTS AFTER HEMORRHOIDOPEXY
another 14.7% had conventional resection. However, the
currence rates reported in the literature are often due to
crucial weakness of this study is the low clinical follow-up
misidentification of residual skin tags. Further reviews8,9,18
rate: although 48% of the patients could still be reached
report a numerically significantly higher reoperation rate
after 2 years, the rate fell to 26.5% after 5 years and was
after stapled hemorrhoidopexy than after Milligan-Mor-
hence unacceptable for scientific purposes. Picchio et al31
gan resection. Nisar et al15 described a significantly higher
contacted 74 patients by phone or clinic visit for 5-year
rate of recurrent prolapse for stapled hemorrhoidopexy
follow-up of a randomized study comparing stapled hem-
than for Milligan-Morgan (third-degree, 11% vs 0%;
orrhoidopexy with the Milligan-Morgan operation. No
fourth-degree, 50% vs 0%), but indicated no correlation
differences in pain, bleeding, or patient satisfaction were
with revision operations or renewed conservative thera-
found. In 2008, Bona et al27 described a reoperation rate
peutic measures. In the randomized studies, follow-up
for patients with early postoperative bleeding of only 1%,
data regarding reoperations are often not given, although
with an overall reoperation rate of 4.2% after a median
such data are contained in some reports.35,36 In their study
follow-up of 6.1 year. Ceci et al32 contacted 291 patients
of patients with fourth-degree hemorrhoids Ortiz et al35
with a mean follow-up of 73 months after stapled hemor-
reported recurrence of prolapse in 8 of 15 patients, 5 of
rhoidopexy and found that 65.3% of patients were asymp-
whom underwent conventional reoperation. The tendency
tomatic, 25% had mild symptoms, and 9.3% had pro-
is to regard this outcome as a technical failure of stapled
nounced symptoms. Recurrence was diagnosed in 18.2%.
hemorrhoidopexy. However, the total number of reopera-
The overall reoperation rate was 7.2%, and the rate was
tions comprises a large number of diseases which are at-
greatly higher in patients who entered the study with
tributable partially to stapled hemorrhoidopexy but also
fourth-degree hemorrhoids than in those with third-
to other changes. This makes it difficult to differentiate
degree hemorrhoids (13.7% vs 2.4%, P ϭ .001).
clearly between reoperations caused by technically inade-
Against this background, the present study—with a
quate repositioning, intentional or inadvertent failure to
follow-up time of 6.3 years and a follow-up rate of 87.2%
eliminate changes, or newly developed changes following
(224 patients)—is to our knowledge the longest and most
extensive long-term study of stapled hemorrhoidopexy yet
Overall, good long-term results have been achieved
undertaken. We found a high patient satisfaction rate of
with stapled hemorrhoidopexy. Some of the cases in which
nearly 90%. The overall reoperation rate of 3.6% was low.
symptoms were poorly controlled are likely due to techni-
Reoperation was mainly due to residual prolapsed seg-
cal problems with the operation, as outlined above (posi-
ments, particularly ventrally, that were not adequately re-
tion of the row of staples, inadequate repositioning of in-
positioned by the mucosal resection. This technical prob-
dividual segments, residual anal tags). Hence the surgeon’s
lem was also evident in the relatively high proportion
experience plays an important role in determining the
(7.8%) of additional conventional procedures required for
outcome. Although no reference group with conven-
residual hemorrhoidal segments during the first operation,
tional results was available for comparison in the pres-
at the expense of higher pain intensity. The advantage of
ent study, our results were similar to those for Ferguson
this strategy in preventing recurrence is supported by a
hemorrhoidectomy37 at the expense of higher periopera-
recent publication by Garg.33 Indeed, some so-called re-
currences may be caused by technical problems with the
Patient satisfaction is a multifactorial criterion and de-
operation. For example, in both of our patients who un-
pends not only on perioperative progress but also on sub-
derwent repeated hemorrhoidopexy, the position of the
jective perception. We found that the “success” of the op-
staple line was high, which might have caused insufficient
eration does not necessarily determine whether patients
repositioning of the hemorrhoidal tissue. A similar prob-
are satisfied or dissatisfied (Table 3). A wide variety of fac-
lem is posed by perianal skin tags, which are regarded by
tors probably play a role. It is difficult to quote a “recur-
some authors as a relative contraindication for stapled
rence rate” on the basis of the data collected. For instance,
hemorrhoidopexy because they need a separate resection
the recurrence rate can be given as the overall reoperation
or are interpreted as false recurrence.28,34 In our patient
rate (8 patients, 3.6%), but also as the percentage of pa-
population, removal of anal tags was performed simulta-
tients with residual symptoms in regard to bleeding and
neously with stapled hemorrhoidopexy in 19.5% of the
operations. In some patients, this also led to higher inten-sity of postoperative pain. However, only 2.7% of patients
CONCLUSION
subsequently required secondary anal tag removal, mainlyperformed under local anesthesia.
Nearly 90% of our patients were satisfied with the out-
The problem of surgical intervention for recurrence is
come of their treatment. Complete freedom from typical
inadequately tackled in the literature. A recent meta-anal-
hemorrhoidal symptoms was achieved in around 80% of
ysis7 dealing with the problem of differentiation between
patients and a further 15% found their symptoms im-
residual skin tags and recurrence concluded that high re-
proved. These data are similar or even better than those
DISEASES OF THE COLON & RECTUM VOLUME 54: 5 (2011)
presented from large series of patients treated with con-
Meeting 27 November 1974. President’s Address. Anorectal in-
ventional surgical techniques. We conclude that stapled
continence. Proc R Soc Med. 1975;68:681– 690.
hemorrhoidopexy, with accompanying conventional re-
14. Hinton JM, Lennard-Jones JE, Young AC. A new method for
section of insufficiently lifted hemorrhoidal segments and
studying gut transit times using radioopaque markers. Gut.
removal of large tags during the operation, can achieve a
high level of patient satisfaction and symptom control,
15. Nisar PJ, Acheson AG, Neal KR, Scholefield JH. Stapled hemor-
rhoidopexy compared with conventional hemorrhoidectomy:
with a low rate of reoperation for recurrent hemor-
systematic review of randomized, controlled trials. Dis Colon
16. Lan P, Wu X, Zhou X, Wang J, Zhang L. The safety and efficacy
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ª The Author 2008. Published by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org. Advance Access publication November 26, 2008Cancer Risk After Exposure to Treatments for Ovulation InductionR. Calderon-Margalit, Y. Friedlander, R. Yanetz, K. Kleinhaus, M. C. Perrin, O. Manor, S. Harlap, andO. Pa
1. Electronic cards: an unrelenting run In the field of electronic cards, payment cards stride forward: during 2002 their number was superior to 46 millions, and there were more than 24.5 million debit cards - almost all of which POS suitable - and 21,8 million credit cards of which 53,34% actually active – which means those used at least once per year. The gap between issued credit card