Effective treatment of external haemorrhoids: conservative therapy, new surgical techniques

External haemorrhoids are an expansion of the external haemorrhoidal veins. Many people confuse it with prolapsed internal lumps, but they are not the same thing. External haemorrhoidal veins are covered with skin, not mucous, and are located around the anus, so their expansion is more noticeable to the patient. Although the nodes are rarely injured during defecation, without treatment they can be complicated by thrombosis or paraproctitis. Timely medical assistance will relieve discomfort and avoid severe complications requiring surgery.

Haemorrhoids

External (external) haemorrhoids or haemorrhoids (bump) appear in the area around the anus, that is, they form on the outside of the rectum. This area is more sensitive than the mucous membrane, since many nerve endings are located here. Because of this, the symptoms of external haemorrhoids are more pronounced than the signs of internal nodes:

• sensation of a foreign body in the anus;
• burning and itching in the anus;
• a feeling of pressure in the anus, pain that may intensify after defecation;
• drops of scarlet blood after bowel movements;
• seal around the sphincter.

A haemorrhoid is located under the skin in the choroid plexus. It looks like a skin pouch filled with blood. The patient can feel the node himself, but its appearance can also be guessed by the painful symptoms. The lump is soft to the touch, the size depends on the amount of blood, it can be from 3 mm to several centimeters.

If there is pain or discomfort after defecation, you should make an appointment with a proctologist. Examination allows you to distinguish external haemorrhoids from fissures, abscesses and other causes of complaints. Digital examination is carried out carefully and only when it is permissible; If pain is severe, the doctor may change the sequence of the examination or use anesthesia. It is impossible to promise a complete absence of unpleasant sensations in advance.

In the absence of timely medical care, as well as under the influence of unfavorable factors, haemorrhoids can become inflamed and thrombose. As a result, the patient’s well-being sharply deteriorates, the usual way of life is disrupted, emergency treatment is required, otherwise more severe complications arise, for example, anal bleeding.

Inflammation of the haemorrhoid

The patient feels thrombosed external haemorrhoids most acutely – this is the formation of blood clots in the haemorrhoids due to prolonged venous stagnation. The bumps become hard, bluish and very painful, and sometimes fall out of the anus as they reach large sizes.

Haemorrhoidal thrombosis is accompanied by inflammation, tissue swelling, and elevated body temperature. It causes severe pain. It is painful for the patient to sit, lie down, walk, even sneeze and cough, not to mention defecation.

Severe stages of thrombosis are accompanied not only by inflammation of the node. The inflammatory process spreads to the perirectal tissue. Anal fissures occur and heavy bleeding is possible.

To prevent thrombosis, it is important to promptly treat varicose haemorrhoidal veins and avoid factors that provoke inflammatory and congestive phenomena.

Causes of inflammation of haemorrhoids with subsequent thrombosis:

• frequent constipation due to poor diet;
• chronic diarrhea;
• overheating (hot bath, sauna), drinking alcohol, spicy food, which increases blood pressure in the haemorrhoidal veins;
• hypothermia;
• pregnancy and childbirth;
• sedentary lifestyle, prolonged sitting;
• excessive physical activity, especially heavy lifting, cycling;
• hereditary predisposition to varicose veins.

As a rule, blood clots form when the tone of the venous walls is disturbed in combination with an increase in pressure on the haemorrhoidal veins. They rarely resolve on their own. When they appear, the patient requires complex treatment under medical supervision, since there is a risk of complications.

Treatment

What treatment of external haemorrhoids will look like depends on its stage. A comprehensive examination helps select effective therapy. To diagnose external haemorrhoids, our center uses all kinds of studies: ultrasound of the rectum, colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy and others. The doctor gives preference to the most informative and most comfortable diagnostic methods for the patient.

Treatment of external haemorrhoids in women and men can be conservative or surgical. At the initial stages, medications in the form of ointments and suppositories are effective, having anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anticoagulant, and angioprotective effects. Such drugs increase vascular tone, reduce inflammation and pain.

However, surgery remains the most effective method of treating external haemorrhoids. The following minimally invasive interventions are widely used at the Haemorrhoid Treatment Center:

• Radio wave coagulation. Varicose vessels are excised and cauterized using a radio wave scalpel.
• Sclerotherapy. This is the destruction of the haemorrhoid by introducing a sclerosing drug into it.
• Cryodestruction. Involves the destruction of haemorrhoids with liquid nitrogen.
• Photocoagulation. The destruction of the node occurs at elevated temperatures.
• Electrocoagulation. Involves destruction of the haemorrhoid using current.
• Ligation with latex rings. Using a special device, a latex ring is placed tightly on the haemorrhoid, which deprives it of blood supply. As a result, it dies off after 7-10 days.
• Desarterization. It involves ligating the arteries that supply the haemorrhoid, causing it to die.
• Laser treatment. For certain indications, lasers are used to treat or excise tissue; The tactics for thrombosis of the external node differ from the treatment of internal haemorrhoids. The scope of the intervention and the need to remove the blood clot are determined by the surgeon. The use of a laser does not exclude relapse and possible postoperative complications.

Surgical treatment of external haemorrhoids always has a favorable prognosis. Thanks to the use of minimally invasive surgical methods, the rehabilitation period takes a few days, and there are no postoperative complications.

Why choose the Haemorrhoid Treatment Center

Our center is a specialized medical institution for the treatment of all forms and stages of haemorrhoids. Proctological surgeons select the optimal surgical techniques, type of anesthesia or medications (if an early stage of the disease is diagnosed). We have an individual approach to each patient, so the level of service is at a high level.

We offer the following benefits:

• minimally invasive treatment with pain control of external haemorrhoids, including thrombosed ones;
• surgery in one day;
• modern surgical equipment;
• professional approach;
• absence of postoperative complications;
• short rehabilitation period;
• individual choice of method and observation after treatment; the risk of recurrent symptoms remains even if recommendations are followed;

The proctological surgeons of our center have impressive experience; every day they successfully perform surgical interventions of varying degrees of complexity for haemorrhoids. Sometimes cases are extremely severe, so you have to resort to haemorrhoidectomy – surgical excision of the node, which is a rather traumatic procedure.

Early referral helps clarify the cause of symptoms and discuss available options, including conservative treatment and interventions when indicated. During the consultation, a specialist will answer questions about the method, pain relief and recovery. Check the cost of admission on the prices page or when making an appointment; It is impossible to promise in advance the absence of pain and the need for only minimally invasive treatment.

Answers to common questions