Sclerotherapy Hemorrhoidal Treatment

Hemorrhoids are also called piles. They result from inflammation and swelling of veins in the anus and rectum. Hemorrhoids can occur either within the body our outside of it. External hemorrhoids tend to be more painful and can result in blood on the toilet paper or in the toilet after defecation. Hemorrhoids are also graded based on their degree of prolapse, which describes how far out of the anus they protrude.

Identification

Sclerotherapy is a treatment that can work for bleeding hemorrhoids that are inside the body. This procedure involves the injection of a solution, known as a sclerosant, into the base of a hemorrhoid. Sclerosants can be made out of chemicals or saline solutions that cause inflammation of the hemorrhoid, which causes the blood supply to scar over, making the hemorrhoid die and fall off.

Advantages

One advantage of sclerotherapy is that it can be done as an outpatient procedure. It is relatively cheap and has long-lasting effects. After the treatment, the hemorrhoid will usually fall off after one week. The effects generally last up to one year, and sclerotherapy is even effective for elderly patients.

Disadvantages

One of the disadvantages of sclerotherapy is that it can only be used on smaller hemorrhoids, classified as first-degree or second-degree hemorrhoids. Larger hemorrhoids will not respond enough to cause alleviation of symptoms. The other disadvantage of this therapy is that while it does provide long-term relief, it will not cure the hemorrhoids, which will generally recur after a year.

Hemorrhoid Types and Effectiveness

Sclerotherapy works best for patients who have first-degree hemorrhoids, which means they are small. Sclerotherapy even works for bleeding hemorrhoids. Second-degree hemorrhoids, in which the rectal prolapse is only barely noticeable, also tend to respond well. However, third-degree hemorrhoids, those with significant prolapse of the rectum, should not be treated with sclerotherapy, nor should hemorrhoids with other complications, such as those that are accompanied by ulcerative colitis.

Complications

The most common complications from sclerotherapy are bleeding from the injection site and pain. The bleeding is usually minor and can be stopped with pressure, and the pain usually goes away after a day. Another complication can occur if the solution is injected directly into a vein. This will cause the patient to experience an unpleasant taste in the mouth or discomfort in the liver region. If this occurs, the injection should be stopped immediately.