Surgical Techniques For Hemorrhoids

Many diffferent options exist to alleviate the discomfort and health hazards of hemorrhoids. Among the best techniques for most cases are natural, home remedies for hemorrhoid treatment.

However, cases do exist that are very severe and can lessen the quality of life a great deal more than just discomfort. For these cases one might pursue the possiblity of surgery.

Before exploring surgical options be aware that not all surgical procedures go according to plan so there is usually some risk involved. Also, surgery tends to be quite expensive and once the procedure is completed you can't take it back.

Surgery can in some cases cause health problems. Most commonly with hemorrhoid surgery options, surgery can cause bleeding and more importantly, infection. Infections from surgery can be very dangerous and even fatal.

Though surgery can in many cases remove hemorrhoids there is no guarantee that they will not return.

Having considered the risks and alterntives, lets explore the more common surgical procedures used to alleviate hemorrhoids.

Hemorrhoidectomy:
A hemorrhoidtectomy is a surgical procedure where the doctor makes incisions into the anus and basically cuts the hemorrhoids off of the anus. This is generally done within one day and is an out-patient procedure. The patient can usually go home the same day. This procedure does however tend to leave cuts in the anus and can produce a considerable amount of pain. In some cases the incisions need to be stitched. Also, the incisions are known to take some time to heal.

Stapled Hemorrhoidectomy:
The stapled hemorrhoidectomy entails the doctor using a special kind of a staple gun that staples a special circular staple around the base of the hemorrhoid. This effectively chokes off the blood supply from the hemorrhoid which causes it to dry up. Eventually, the hemorrhoid should just fall off the anus.

This type of surgery is less risky and painful than a standard hemorrhiodectomy.

Sclerotherapy
In this procedure a substance known as a sclerocing agent is injected directly into the hemorrhoid. A common sclerocing agent would be phenol. This procedure causes the hemorrhoid to begin shrinking immediately. Within time the hemorrhoid dies and falls off the anal or rectal wall.

Rubber Band Ligation
This is one of the most popular forms of surgery for hemorrhoids because it is less painful and less risky than other procedures. It is an out-patient treatment so the patient can generally go home the same day as the procedure.

This procedure is used only for internal hemorrhoids. Basically, a small rubber band is stretched over the base of the hemorrhoid, choking off the blood supply to it. Within 2 to 7 days the hemorrhoid dries up and falls off the rectal wall. During normal bowel movements both the hemorrhoid and the rubber band are expelled from the body.

Laser Surgery
In this treatment the doctor basically shoots a laser from a laser gun directly at the hemorrhoid. As a result the hemorrhoid is immediately burned off the wall of the anus and the resultant wound is immediately cauterized.

There are a number of variations of laser surgery including electrocautery, infrared laser and cyrosurgery.

Though other forms of surgery exist these are the most commonly used forms of surgery. As you can see, some are less risky and less painful than others. The newer kinds of surgery such as a stapled hemorrhoidectomy and rubber band ligation may be among your best options.