Long-term results of large-dose, single-session phenol injection sclerotherapy for hemorrhoids.

PURPOSE

The aim of our study was to assess the medium to long-term outcome following single session large dose injection sclerotherapy for symptomatic hemorrhoids.

METHODS

One hundred eighty-nine patients (male = 106, female = 83, median age, 51; range, 20-85 years) were assessed following single-session, large-dose (3 x 5 ml) phenol injection therapy. The most frequent complaint was bleeding (100 percent).

RESULTS

At four-year follow-up, 53 patients (28.0 percent) were cured, 26 (13.7 percent) were improved, 35 (18.5 percent) remained unchanged, 59 (31.2 percent) deteriorated, and 16 (8.5 percent) required surgical intervention. Among the patients who were not cured, symptoms were minimal in 50 percent. Sclerotherapy was associated with a reduced incidence of bleeding (P < 0.05) but an increase in difficulty in perineal cleaning was observed (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Large-dose, single-session sclerotherapy provides only short-term benefits in the majority of patients with symptomatic hemorrhoids.