Piles Surgery

Piles are not associated with any symptoms and people are not even aware that they have them. If symptoms do develop, they may include:

Bleeding after a bowel movement
A lump inside the anal canal or around the anus
Itchy bottom
Sore, swollen anus
Slimy mucus discharge after a bowel movement

Piles often clear up by themselves, although dietary changes and simple treatments may be recommended to relieve symptoms in the meantime. Severe piles may require more intensive treatment, which will depend on their location.

Non-surgical treatments to treat piles located in the upper two thirds of the anal canal may include:

Banding
Sclerotherapy
Electrotherapy

However, piles located in the lower third, closest to the anus, will require surgery under anesthetic, since the amount of pain-sensing nerves in this area would mean the use of non-surgical techniques would be too painful.

Although piles can usually be treated using lifestyle changes, creams, ointments or non-surgical techniques, around one in ten individuals will require surgery. The main surgical procedures that are used to treat piles are haemorrhoidectomy, stapling and haemorrhoidal artery ligation.

Haemorrhoidectomy

Haemorrhoidectomy refers to the surgical removal of internal or external haemorrhoids, usually while a patient is under general anesthetic. This is the most effective method for treating severe haemorrhoids.

Closed haemorrhoidectomy is the most commonly used surgery for internal haemorrhoids. Haemorrhoids are excised using a sharp instrument or laser and the wounds then closed by suture. Following the procedure, patients are advised to take sitz baths, avoid becoming constipated and use mild painkillers. The procedure is successful in almost all cases, but potential complications include the following:

Pain
Urinary tract infection
Urinary retention
Fecal incontinence
Fecal impaction
Anal stricture

Closed haemorrhoidectomy is associated with the most post-operative pain, but it does provide the best results in the long term and is also associated with the lowest recurrence. Currently, researchers are trying to develop methods that can decrease the post-operative pain.

Open haemorrhoidectomy also involves excision of the hemorrhoids while a patient is under general anesthetic, but the wound made to remove the haemorrhoids is left open. This may be the preferred method when haemorrhoids that are extensive or awkwardly located, would make closing the incision difficult or increase infection risk after the procedure. The complications associated with this form of hemorrhoidectomy are similar to those associated with the closed procedure.