Grade 1 Piles
There are a variety of ways to alleviate the discomfort caused by Grade 1 piles, including over-the-counter creams, painkillers, or suppositories.
To learn more about treating mild cases of piles, visit www.pilesadvice.co.uk
Piles and Pregnancy
Pregnant women often experience piles during or after pregnancy. The symptoms may clear up soon after labour.
To learn more about dealing with piles while pregnant, visit http://www.babycentre.co.uk
Grade 2-4 Piles
When symptoms have progressed past Grade 1 and haven’t cleared up within several weeks, many people turn to a surgical procedure. There are several surgical options available, depending upon the severity of the piles and the advice of your GP.
Procedure for Prolapse & Haemorrhoids (PPH)
For people with serious (Grade 2-4) piles, PPH is an alternative to the traditional haemorrhoidectomy. PPH is a NICE-recommended procedure. NICE has found that patients had less post-operative pain and were able to return to work faster with PPH than with an open haemorrhoidectomy .
Learn more About PPH
Sclerotherapy
Sclerotherapy is a procedure that involves injecting a chemical into the site of the piles. The purpose of the injection is to cut off the blood supply to the vessel. Like banding, people who have this procedure may require more than one treatment.
Rubber Band Ligation (also called “banding”)
With banding, a surgeon places a small rubber band around the base of the swollen blood vessel, cutting off its blood supply. This may cause the blood vessel to shrink and gradually disappear, and may lead to some scar tissue taking its place. This procedure is considered to be simple, although often more than one treatment may be necessary.
Haemorrhoidal Artery Ligation Operation (HALO)
In this procedure, an ultrasound devise is placed in the rectum, which helps the surgeon locate the feeding artery that gives blood to the pile. The feeding artery is then ligated (stitched), which cuts off the blood supply to the pile.
This procedure is less invasive than other surgical procedures, but may be less effective. Fewer surgeons provide HALO than surgical haemorrhoidectomy and PPH.
Haemorrhoidectomy
Surgical (Open) Haemorrhoidectomy is reserved for people with very serious cases of piles. A surgeon uses a scalpel to cut away up to three of the enlarged or swollen haemorrhoidal cushions, while the patient is under general anaesthetic. This procedure usually provides permanent relief. People who undergo this procedure usually feel post-operative pain, and will have to stay in the hospital for at least four to five days after the procedure is performed. They may not feel able to resume their normal, day-to-day activities for two weeks or more.
