Wallis de Vries B M, van der Beek E S J, de Wijkerslooth L R H, van der Zwet W C, van der Hoeven J A B, Eeftinck Schattenkerk M, Eddes E H
Department of Surgery, Deventer Hospital, Deventer, The Netherlands.
Dig Surg. 2007;24(6):436-40. doi: 10.1159/000108326. Epub 2007 Sep 13.
We evaluated the results of the Doppler-guided hemorrhoidal arterial ligation (DG-HAL) method in the management of symptomatic grade 2 and 3 hemorrhoids.
Between June 2005 and March 2006, 110 consecutive patients with symptomatic grade 2 and 3 hemorrhoids according to the DG-HAL method were treated. All procedures were performed in daycare under spinal anesthesia. The primary objective was the reduction in hemorrhoidal gradation as determined by proctoscopy; the secondary was patient satisfaction. This was measured by interviewing patients over the telephone.
The average age was 47.6 years. 42 patients had grade 2 hemorrhoids, 68 grade 3. An average of 7.3 ligations were placed. Proctoscopy showed that, after 6 weeks, 97 (88%) patients had a significant improvement in their hemorrhoidal gradation. After an average follow-up of 37 weeks, 93 of the 110 (84.5%) patients were satisfied with the postoperative result. Mortality was 0% and morbidity 3%.
DG-HAL is a safe and effective treatment in the management of symptomatic grade 2 and 3 hemorrhoids.