Introduction
There are a variety of methods that have been developed over the years to treat hemorrhoids. Let’s review the most commonly available treatment options, and you will see why our methods are ideal for most patients.
How Do We Compare?
Surgery
The classical hemorrhoid surgery is usually reserved for very advanced cases when other methods fail, and it is not an appropriate treatment method for most patients. This in-hospital procedure, done under general anesthesia in the operating room, involves cutting out the redundant hemorrhoid tissue, and carries with it a very difficult and painful recovery period often requiring weeks off from work.
The financial costs involved are unacceptably high, and this procedure carries significant risk for serious complications, including bleeding, infection, death, anesthesia reactions, scarring of the anal canal, and loss of control for bowel movements.
Rubber Band Ligation
This is the most widely-used non-surgical method for the treatment of hemorrhoids. It involves placing tiny rubber bands around the hemorrhoid tissue, thereby strangulating the tissue until it drops off. Rubber band ligation works reasonably well for most Grade II and Grade III hemorrhoids, but it has its drawbacks.
The procedure is moderately painful, the bands cannot be applied in all cases due to technical reasons, and the procedure carries significant risks. Studies show that about 2% of patients undergoing rubber band ligation end up in the hospital due to complications. The most dreaded complication of rubber band ligation is infection and death.
Infrared Coagulation
This is the treatment option most accepted by patients. Treatment time usually takes less than a minute, and the procedure is virtually painless, thus anesthesia is not required. Studies have shown that infrared coagulation and rubber band ligation are equally effective in treating early hemorrhoids, but that rubber band ligation is more painful. Most importantly, however, is that there have never been any serious complications from infrared coagulation reported in the medical literature, rendering it preferable to rubber band ligation for early stage disease.
Ultroid Electrocoagulation
This is perhaps the best non-surgical treatment method available. Similar to infrared coagulation, the procedure is virtually painless, performed without the need for anesthesia, and there have never been any serious complications reported. Unlike infrared coagulation, though, Ultroid is effective for all grades of hemorrhoids. Based on its effectiveness and safety profile, it is preferable to rubber band ligation for later stage disease. For early stage disease, infrared coagulation is still preferred by most patients as the required treatment time is significantly shorter.
