Hemorrhoid Surgery - the Options

Hemorrhoids can occur due to a variety of different factors, such as: obesity, aging, pregnancy, continual constipation or diarrhea and anal intercourse. Hemorrhoid surgery only usually becomes necessary in cases when hemorrhoid starts giving intolerable pain, itching and bleeding.

Hemorrhoids can occur in any area of the rectum i.e. inside or outside the anal canal. External hemorrhoids occur outside the anal canal and they can be seen or felt near the anus. The symptoms of external hemorrhoids include swelling and pain in the anus or a lump is formed outside the anus. The treatment for such hemorrhoids is not complicated and can be cured with hemorrhoid surgery.

On the other hand, internal hemorrhoids are of major concern. Internal hemorrhoid occurs inside the rectal area. The most common symptom of such hemorrhoid is bleeding. Initially it doesn’t pain, but with the passage of time the situation gets worse and you may experience pain and come across many sleepless nights, as the symptoms become worse in the evenings.

Medical treatment for hemorrhoids

Medical treatment for hemorrhoids begins with relieving the symptoms. Warm tub baths, fiber rich diets, intake of plenty of water or fluids and application of hemorrhoid ointments to the affected area are helpful. Following a regular diet and exercise regimen can help get rid of hemorrhoids and also prevent the recurrence of it. however in cases where the symptoms still persist then hemorrhoid surgery is sometimes recommended.

Hemorrhoid surgery is a surgical procedure to remove hemorrhoids. If there are any excess tissues around the hemorrhoid, they are also removed during the surgery. The surgery is performed to treat extensive and severe hemorrhoids that can be external as well as internal.

For this type of surgery, the patient would normally need to stay overnight in the hospital. The surgery is performed by a surgeon who has specialized in rectum and colon surgeries. The patient is placed on a special diet to prepare the bowels and given some laxatives and enema to clear the gastrointestinal tract before the surgery. Then he is given anesthesia and the hemorrhoid is viewed with the help of an anoscope, a short tube that is inserted into the anus.

The surgeon then examines the condition of the hemorrhoid and ties off the blood supply to the hemorrhoid with a few stitches. Then these hemorrhoids tissues, as well as few other bits of tissues, are removed without causing damage to the anal sphincter. Scalpel, scissors, cautery and sometimes laser are used to remove the tissue.

After hemorrhoid surgery, some pain and discomfort may persist as is the case with other surgeries. Medication is prescribed to overcome the post surgery effects. The patient remains under observation after the surgery.

Any bleeding from the anus is diagnosed and excessive bleeding is treated by inserting a balloon tipped catheter into the rectum to stop the bleeding. Prescribed ointments are applied to relieve the pain. Laxatives and stool softeners are administered to ease defecation. The patient is kept mainly on liquid diets for a day or two and then asked to follow a prescribed diet strictly. He is asked not to strain himself during bowel movement.

When all other avenues of natural cures for hemorrhoids and you have exhausted your options, then hemorrhoid surgery can be the most effective way of treating hemorrhoids, but it has its potential risks to go along with the benefits. It is painful too. To overcome the risks and pain associated with traditional hemorrhoid surgery, a new technique is evolved called Stapled Hemorrhoidopexy or PPH procedure. This has made the surgical procedure easier and nearly painless!