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Hemorrhoid Ultrasound Treatment

Hemorrhoids are a condition that refers to swollen or inflamed veins around the anus or lower rectum. Hemorrhoids occur either inside the anus (internal) or around the outside of the anus (external). Approximately 10 million Americans visit their doctor each year because of the discomfort caused by hemorrhoids, and almost 90 percent of Americans will experience hemorrhoids at some point in their lifetime. Although most common in people older than 50, hemorrhoids can also be more prevalent during pregnancy and among those who suffer from chronic constipation or diarrhea. Symptoms include soreness, bleeding, discharge and itching.
Although minor cases of hemorrhoids can be resolved by changes in diet and bowel habits, more severe cases require medical treatment. Traditionally, hemorrhoids have been treated medically by coagulation therapy, which reduces the blood flow to the hemorrhoid, using rubber band ligation, heat, lasers or electric current, or by a hemorrhoidectomy, which surgically removes the hemorrhoid. However, the introduction of hemorrhoid ultrasound treatment offers a third, less invasive and more effective method of treating moderate to severe cases of hemorrhoids.

  1. FDA Approval

    • Hemorrhoid ultrasound treatment, also known as Doppler-guided hemorrhoidal arterial ligation, was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a surgical method to treat hemorrhoids in August 2006. Prior to being approved in the United States, the procedure was used widely in Europe. It was developed by in 1995 by Dr. K. Morinaga, a Japanese surgeon.

    Minimally Invasive

    • Hemorrhoid ultrasound treatment, which uses an instrument called an ultrasound blood flow detector, is minimally invasive and relatively painless. With some sedation (depending on the patient and physician) and localized rectal anesthesia, the proctoscope is inserted into the rectum. The rectal arteries supplying blood to the hemorrhoid are identified with ultrasound tones and then ligated (tied off) to stop blood flow to hemorrhoidal tissue, which subsequently shrinks and disappears. Ultrasound treatment is considered the best treatment for bleeding hemorrhoids as the bleeding stops immediately.

    Quick Recovery

    • Doppler-guided hemorrhoidal arterial ligation takes approximately 20 minutes to complete and does not involve a hospital stay. Patients can often return to work the same day as the procedure. The only preparation for the procedure is the use of an enema.

    Safe and Effective

    • Patients experience less discomfort and pain both during and after the procedure compared with conventional treatments and surgeries (especially hemorrhoidectomy). In addition, ultrasound treatment for hemorrhoids has been shown to be effective in clinical studies, accompanied by a low risk of complications.

    Use in the United States

    • Ultrasound treatment therapy was first used in the United States at Florida Hospital Digestive Health Center. However, because so many FDA-approved treatments are available to physicians and their patients to treat moderate to severe hemorrhoids, be sure to check with your insurance company regarding coverage of this procedure.

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