BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to assess the early and late complications of haemorrhoidectomy according to Milligan-Morgan (Milligan-Morgan laser optical fibers variant) vs haemorrhoidopexy with PPH-stapler and to assess the long-term results in terms of recurrences in circumferential prolapse patients classified P4-E4 (PATE 2000). METHODS: Onehundredsixty patients, with haemorrhoidal disease classified P4-E4, who underwent surgery between 2001 and 2007, were included in an retrospective observational study. Group A (M-M laser fibre) 80 patients (50%) (50 Male, 30 Female; median age 39 years, range 23-57 years). Group B (PPH-Stapler) 80 patients (50%) (58 Male, 22 Female; median age 40 years, range 23-60 years). RESULT: Early complications were thrombosis (6 cases in M-M vs 1 in PPH) and urinary retention (13 M-M vs 5 PPH). There weren’t cases of sepsis. Late complications have been: occasional bleeding 13.5 % in the M-M-group vs 10 % in the PPH-group; defecatory urgency 2.5 % (M-M-group) vs 5% (PPH-group) with p < 0.1; persistent pain 2.5 % (M-M) vs 5 % (PPH) with p < 0.1; soiling 18.75 % (M-M) vs 0 % (PPH) with p < 0.001; recurrences 5 % in PPH-group vs 0 % in M-M (p < 0.05); residual disease 7.5 % in M-M-group vs 0 % in PPH p < 0.01. CONCLUSIONS: PPH-stapler procedure for treatment of haemorrhoidal prolapse is an important improvement, but may be followed by severe complications. We think that it has a clear indication in the treatment of haemorrhoidary disease with circumferential prolapse classified P4-E4.