Procedure for Prolapse and Hemorrhoids

The Procedure for Prolapse and Hemorrhoids

I am pleased to announce that we are now able to offer your patients suffering with hemorrhoids the Procedure for Prolapse and Hemorrhoids (PPH).  The American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons reports that 50 percent of all Americans will have hemorrhoids in their lifetime.  One reason people do not talk about hemorrhoid problems with their doctor is because they anticipate a painful, traditional hemorrhoid surgery.

In keeping with my commitment to improving surgical care through the use of minimally invasive surgery, minimally invasive approach called PPH is now available through my practice.  This procedure may help patients recover from hemorrhoid surgery faster with less pain when compared to conventional hemorrhoidectomy procedures.  I have been using this approach for the last several months and have had phenomenal results.

Clinical trial results comparing Procedure for Prolapse and Hemorrhoids to conventional hemorrhoid surgery have shown that patients who have the PPH procedure may experience:

• Less pain
• A quicker recovery period
• Less overall complications
• Need for less postoperative pain medication

Hemorrhoids are one of the most common ailments for men and women alike — affecting more than half the population at some point in their lives. Onset commonly occurs after the age of 30, but hemorrhoids are reported in people of all ages. More than 525,000 patients in the United States are treated annually for symptomatic hemorrhoids.  Of these, approximately 10–20 percent will require surgical treatment for their condition.

What is a Hemorrhoid?

Each of us has veins within the anus that tend to stretch under pressure, somewhat like varicose veins in the legs. It is believed these veins exist to protect and cushion the anal canal. When these veins swell, they are called "hemorrhoids." One set of veins is inside the rectum (internal hemorrhoids), and another is under the skin around the anus (external hemorrhoids).

Types of Hemorrhoids

Internal Hemorrhoids

Internal hemorrhoids usually are not painful, but may bleed. Sometimes, an internal hemorrhoid may stretch until it bulges outside the anus. This is called a prolapsed hemorrhoid. A prolapsed hemorrhoid may shrink back inside the rectum on its own over time, or it may be gently pushed back inside. If the prolapsed hemorrhoid cannot be pushed back inside, several hemorrhoid treatment options including hemorrhoid surgery.

External Hemorrhoids

External hemorrhoids involve the veins around the anus. They can be itchy or painful and can sometimes crack and bleed. If a blood clot forms, one may feel a tender lump on the edge of the anus, and see bright red blood on toilet paper or in the toilet after a bowel movement.

Hemorrhoids Prevalence and Diagnosis

Hemorrhoids can affect men and women alike; however, an individual may be more likely to get hemorrhoids as they age or if their parents had them. Pregnant women often get hemorrhoids because of the strain from carrying the baby and from giving birth. For most women, such hemorrhoids are a temporary problem. Obesity, straining during bowel movements, sitting too long on the toilet, or standing or lifting too much can make hemorrhoids worse. Constipation is often the main cause of hemorrhoids.

If an individual is struggling with anorectal issues, it is important to visit a physician to correctly identify the problem. The physical evaluation should include observation, palpation, and anoscopic examination. Although this condition is benign and easily treated, patients may delay seeking medical advice because of embarrassment of hemorrhoids or fear of cancer. As a result, many people first see their physician when the problem is advanced, requiring extensive hemorrhoid treatment, and causing greater distress than if the condition had been adequately diagnosed and managed at an earlier stage.

Early Hemorrhoid Treatment Options

Often lifestyle and dietary changes, topical medications, and good hygiene may be all that are needed to reduce the symptoms of hemorrhoids. Most painful hemorrhoids stop hurting on their own in one to two weeks. If pain persists, talk to a physician about other hemorrhoids treatment options.

Advanced Hemorrhoid Treatment Options

Advanced Hemorrhoid options include:

Rubber band ligation is widely used for the treatment of internal hemorrhoids where the hemorrhoidal tissue is pulled into a double-sleeved cylinder to allow the placement of latex/rubber bands around the tissue. Over time, the tissue below the bands dies-off and is eliminated during a bowel movement. Rubber band ligation can be performed in a doctor’s office and requires little preparation. Often, however, there is the need for more than one procedure to resolve the condition.

A hemorrhoidectomy surgically removes the tissue that causes bleeding or protrusion. It is done under anesthesia and may require hospitalization and a period of inactivity. Other methods of hemorrhoid treatment include Infrared Coagulation, BICAP Coagulation, Injection Sclerotherapy, Laser Hemorrhoidectomy, and Doppler Ultrasound Guided Hemorrhoidal Artery Ligation.

Innovative Hemorrhoid Treatment Options

The treatment for advanced hemorrhoids is called the Procedure for Prolapse and Hemorrhoids (PPH). This minimally invasive surgery technique was developed in the early 1990s to reduce the prolapse of hemorrhoidal tissue to allow a patient to experience less pain and recover faster than patients who undergo the conventional hemorrhoidectomy procedure.

Conventional hemorrhoidectomy procedures are painful because hemorrhoidal tissue is surgically removed, affecting many nerve endings. In comparison, PPH reduces the prolapse of hemorrhoidal tissue by utilizing a circular stapler to trim out a band of tissue above the dentate line, or "pain" line, within the anal canal. The PPH surgical procedure essentially "lifts up" or repositions the anal canal tissue and restores the hemorrhoidal tissue to its original anatomical position, without cutting sensitive nerve endings. The internal hemorrhoids then shrink within four to six weeks after the procedure.

Click here to view PPH Illustration

Florida Hospital Flagler

61 Memorial Medical Parkway, Suite 2815

Palm Coast, Florida 32164

Office (386) 586-1850  ·  Fax (386) 586-1851