Painless Techniques for the Treatment of Hemorrhoids

Painless Techniques for the Treatment of Hemorrhoids
Major surgery for hemorrhoids can generally be avoided in favor of more sophisticated and often painless methods of treatment. Non-surgical methods of treatment are available to most patients as a viable alternative to a permanent hemorrhoid cure.
 
Bipolar Coagulation
Bipolar electrotherapy is applied for a directed coagulation effect of the mucous membrane near the hemorrhoid. Specialized Bipolar Circumactive Probes (BICAP) are effective for the treatment of bleeding internal hemorrhoids. Bipolar electrotherapy is applied for a directed coagulation effect of the mucous membrane near the hemorrhoid. Specialized probe designs are effective for the treatment of bleeding internal hemorrhoids. 


HAL
Hemorrhoidal Arterial Ligation (H.A.L.) is performed using a modified proctoscope in conjunction with a Doppler ultrasound flowmeter. A needle and thread is passed beneath the artery, and a knot is externally tied, to stop the blood flow to the hemorrhoid. 

Hemorrhoidolysis
Therapeutic galvanic waves applied directly to the hemorrhoid, produces a chemical reaction that shrinks and dissolves hemorrhoidal tissue. This technique is most effective when it is used on internal hemorrhoids. Therapeutic galvanic waves applied directly to the hemorrhoid, produces a chemical reaction that shrinks and dissolves hemorrhoidal tissue. This technique is most effective when it is used on internal hemorrhoids. For more detailed information about how electric modalities are used in the treatment of hemorrhoids, view the 

Injection
To shrink the hemorrhoid and its blood vessels, medicine is injected into the mucous membrane near the hemorrhoid. This method is reserved for the smallest of hemorrhoids.

Photocoagulation
A device called a photocoagulator focuses infrared light into a fine point at the end of a probe, which spotwelds the hemorrhoid in place. This is used for hemorrhoids that are actively bleeding.

Rubber Banding
A special instrument fits a small rubber band over part of the hemorrhoid. A tight rubber band stops the blood flow into the pinched-off portion, which falls off in about a week. This technique is widely used for hemorrhoids protruding into the anal canal.
For patients with a lesser degree of prolapse, Rubber Band Ligation is currently the most widely used procedure in the United States for treatment of internal hemorrhoids. In this procedure, the hemorrhoidal tissue is pulled into a double sleeved cylinder to allow the placement of latex/rubber bands around the tissue. (fig. 1) Overtime, the tissue below the bands dies off and is eliminated during a bowel movement. (fig. 2)

Rubber band ligation can be performed in a doctor's office and requires little preparation. Often, however, there is the need for more than one procedure to resolve a patient's condition. Rubber band ligation is most effective when combined with a sclerotherapy injection for prolapse.

Super Freezing
A cryogenic device uses liquid nitrogen to super freeze the hemorrhoid. This causes the affected tissue to slough off, so that new healthy tissue can grow in its place. This technique is most effective when it is used on external hemorrhoids.

HAL-RAR Method Hemorrhoidectomy
A product of A.M.I. (Agency for Medical Innovations) is the (DG) HAL/RAR® System. It is the first system to utilize minimally invasive surgical techniques to treat the source of hemorrhoidal disease without surgical excision, stapling or banding. It is a single system that offers two procedure options, (DG) HAL (Doppler Guided Hemorrhoidal Artery Ligation) and (DG) RAR (Doppler Guided Recto Anal Repair Proctoplasty).

How many patients have been treated and what are the results?

Available to patients since 2001, the procedures have been successfully performed on tens of thousands of patients worldwide. Physicians report an institutional success rate of 93-96% in treating patients with grades II to IV disease. Complication rates are very low, and any complications that do occur, such as minor bleeding, thrombosis, and defecation pain, are very manageable.

How long does the procedure take, will I be hospitalized, and when can I go back to work?

The procedure can take as little as twenty minutes and patients usually leave the same day. Most patients experience only minor pain and discomfort, and return to work the next day.