Treatment of haemorrhoids by rubber band ligation.

Outpatient treatment of haemorrhoids by elastic band ligation without anaesthetic was performed in 75 patients. Clinical review showed that 65 returned to work within 24 h of ligation, 8 in 48 h and 2 after 48 h. No patient required hospitalisation for either rectal bleeding or pain after ligation. In the first week after treatment 36 were completely symptom-free, 26 had minimal discomfort and 13 had moderate pain with a sense of imcomplete evacuation in the rectum, and some frequency of call to stool lasting up to 7 days in 1. Follow-up at 8-26 months (mean 10 months) showed that 59 were symptom free, only occasional rectal bleeding occurred in 7 and more frequent irregular bleeding in 2. Religation of residual haemorrhoids was performed in 7 and 2 and a haemorrhoidectomy. For the majority of patients hospitalisation and loss of work were avoided.