Effective, non-surgical treatment for chronic hemorrhoids
You may be aware that there are two traditional approaches to treating chronic hemorrhoids: A surgery called hemorrhoidectomy and another procedure called rubber band ligation. Either option can treat the condition, however the recovery will be long and painful, made all the more difficult by the body’s need to have daily bowel movements.
Today, there is another option. Hemorrhoidal artery embolization is a minimally invasive, non-surgical outpatient procedure that is clinically proven to treat hemorrhoids without the long and painful recovery.
Schedule a consultation with one of our doctors, please call (847) 584-3959 or fill out our form below.
What are chronic hemorrhoids?
Hemorrhoids are swollen veins in the anus or lower rectum. They can cause itching, bleeding and painful bowel movements. Hemorrhoids will typically go away on their own, or with the assistance of medications, supplements or topical creams. But for many people, the symptoms persist even after a few months. These are known as “chronic” hemorrhoids.
What happens if I don’t treat chronic hemorrhoids?
If the treatments mentioned above have failed and symptoms persist, the potential complications of hemorrhoids can include:
- Perianal thrombosis
- Incarcerated prolapsed hemorrhoids
- Anemia
- Blood clots
- Blood loss (due to a burst hemorrhoid)
- Infection
- Skin tags
The risks of surgery and rubber band ligation
When hemorrhoids do not go away on their own, hemorrhoidectomy is a surgical procedure that is often recommended to remove them. But, surgery is associated with risks and complications that can include infection, bleeding, difficulty emptying the bladder, rectal prolapse and more.1,2 The recovery time is at least 2 weeks, and it will likely be 3-6 weeks before you feel normal again.
Rubber band ligation is a less invasive technique where small rubber bands are placed around the base of the hemorrhoid to cut off its blood supply. Unfortunately, this approach is also associated with pain and complications, especially for those taking anti-platelet or anti-coagulant medication and who have a higher risk of hemorrhage and infectious complications.3
Schedule a consultation with one of our doctors, please call (847) 584-3959 or fill out our form below.
A new and effective option: hemorrhoidal artery embolization (HAE)
At Joint & Vascular Institute, we offer a minimally invasive option called hemorrhoidal artery embolization (HAE). It is a very effective treatment for patients with grade 1 to 3 chronic internal hemorrhoids.
HAE is performed by one of our highly trained interventional radiologists, a doctor who has undergone advanced training in image-guided procedures. During the procedure, the doctor will insert a tiny catheter into a blood vessel and then uses x-ray imaging to guide it through the body to the hemorrhoid. Special coils are inserted into to cut off the blood supply to the hemorrhoid, causing it to shrink. The success rate of this procedure is greater than 90%.4
There is no general anesthesia required for the procedure, no incisions, no scarring and no painful recovery. You may return home the same day and resume normal activities.
Schedule a consultation with one of our doctors, please call (847) 584-3959 or fill out our form below.
Talk to us about HAE
If you’re suffering from chronic hemorrhoids, we invite you to consult with one of our doctors. At Joint Vascular Institute, we perform both diagnostic evaluations as well as treatment.
References
- Hiroko Kunitake, MD, MPH and Vitaliy Poylin, MD, FACS, FASCRS2 Complications Following Anorectal Surgery Clin Colon Rectal Surg. 2016, Mar; 29(1): 14-21.
- Christos Simoglou et al. Milligan-Morgan Haemorrhoidectomy Complications. Hellenic Journal of Surgery 86, 68-71
- Andreia Albuquerque Rubber band ligation of hemorrhoids: A guide for complications. World J Gastrointest Surg. 2016 Sep 27; 8(9): 614-620
- Sandeep Bagla, MD et al. Outcomes of Hemorrhoidal Artery Embolization from a Multidisciplinary Outpatient Interventional Center.