Forms of treatment for hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids treatment overview – when is it time to see a doctor

When hemorrhoids become a repeated problem where the pain becomes unbearable, especially when there is bleeding, it is imperative to consult a doctor, especially if you are over the age of 50 and have a family history of polyps or colon cancer.

The review is painless, and usually includes careful inspection of the anus, a digital rectal exam and a anuscopie, review done with a small camera to explore the interior of the anus.

Localized treatment

To alleviate the hemorrhoidal pain, doctors will prescribe a treatment that depends on their severity. When the symptoms are not very significant, treatment with venous tonic (tablets) can relieve the problem. This treatment can sometimes involves a local anesthetic (cream or suppositories). If hemorrhoids become annoying and painful the doctor can make a small incision under local anesthesia to relieve the pain instantly.

The treatment “instrumental”

Other treatments, known as “instrumental” to maintain vessels in the anus, are made in treatment outside of hemorrhoidal outbreak. Different methods are used. Sclerosing injections (one per week for three weeks) are not painful, but effective; however sometimes unsustainable. The same result is obtained by photocoagulation, which uses an infrared beam.

Rubber band ligation

Rubber band ligation, which is intended only for internal hemorrhoids not too large, is to strengthen the basis of a package of hemorrhoids by a rubber band to the necrosis. This method is sometimes combined with cryotherapy (cold treatment), a somewhat painful treatment. The laser is fast and virtually painless when used for external hemorrhoids.

More invasive surgery

For the 10% of people who suffer from recurrent outbreaks of hemorrhoidal pain despite medical treatment and instrumental there is a more aggressive forms of surgery. There are two surgical methods. The classic technique, to cut the hemorrhoidal package out (applies to both internal and external hemorrhoids). Produced under loco-regional anesthesia, with a hospital stay of three to five days.

A new method painless

In recent years, a new surgical method is practiced in Europe called Anopexie.  It was developed by an Italian surgeon and is reserved for internal hemorrhoids. Its principle is not to remove the packages hemorrhoids out of the anus, but to go back to using a circular stapling on the rectal mucosa, without harming the anal sphincter and without wound. Staples fall of themselves after one month.

Performed under general anesthesia or loco-regional, this intervention takes about fifteen minutes, with a hospital stay of twenty-four to thirty-six hours. The resumption of activities is possible within days, instead of two to three weeks for classic surgery. The operating suites are simple: little pain, no daily care. But it still lacks decline to compare the long term this technique with conventional removal of hemorrhoids.