Rational approach to treatment of hemorrhoids based on a theory of etiology.

In a series of 600 patients suffering from hemorrhoidal symptoms, 709 treatment procedures were performed. Only 7% of the patients required hemorrhoidectomy. In the remaining patients, symptoms were relieved by conservative therapy comprising sclerotherapy, band ligation, or cryotherapy of the internal hemorrhoids only. On the basis of this series, the following proposals are made: (1) the concept of hemorrhoidal destruction should be replaced by one of fibrosis, (2) only the internal hemorrhoids need be treated, (3) hemorrhoids need not be treated unless they produce symptoms and then only the symptoms need be treated, (4) only those far-advanced hemorrhoids in which there has been extensive fragmentation of the supportive connective tissue need be treated surgically, and (5) treatment may be chosen according to the stage of the hemorrhoids.