Medical Encyclopedia

Medical Encyclopedia

Hemorrhoid surgery - series: Procedure

 Procedure

Hemorrhoid surgery - series
Illustrations:

  • Normal anatomy
  • Indications
  • Procedure
  • Aftercare

    • The hemorrhoid is ligated at its base, to prevent bleeding from the blood vessels within the hemorrhoid, then it is removed surgically. Alternatively, some surgeons will simply apply a rubber band around the base of the hemorrhoid (banding); deprived of its blood supply, the hemorrhoid will then simply fall off and be passed in the stool. Finally, some surgeons will inject the base of the hemorrhoid with a sclerosing agent (sclerotherapy), which also destroys the vessels in the hemorrhoid, causing it to fall off and be passed in the stool.

    Update Date: 7/25/2007

    Updated by: Robert A. Cowles, MD, Assistant Professor of Surgery, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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