Hemorrhoidal Disease Management: When and How to Intervene

For patients with edematous hemorrhoidal thrombosis, the first line of treatment is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) such as ketoprofen, in conjunction with an analgesic, as outlined by Vincent de Parades, MD, PhD, of Hôpital Paris Saint-Joseph, Paris. In his presentation at France’s annual general medicine conference (JNMG 2024) on the management of hemorrhoidal disease, he noted, “This [NSAID and analgesic] treatment is highly effective, initially relieving pain and reducing edema, though the clot takes longer to resolve.” In cases where residual skin tags (marisques) remain after an episode, resection may be considered if they cause discomfort.
While patients often turn to over-the-counter topical treatments during flare-ups, de Parades noted that these have not been proven effective for hemorrhoidal disease. For hemorrhoidal thrombosis, however, a topical treatment with a corticosteroid and anesthetic may be prescribed.
No NSAIDs for Abscesses
In addition to NSAIDs, a local treatment may provide soothing benefits, especially when combined with topical application, as highlighted by Nadia Fathallah, MD, of Hôpital Paris Saint-Joseph, who joined de Parades in the presentation. “I recommend massaging the ointment to help dissolve the thrombus,” she added. However, “NSAIDs should not be prescribed in the case of an abscess,” cautioned de Parades, emphasizing that “any patient with a painful anal swelling needs an examination.” When in doubt, administer an analgesic and reexamine the patient 1-2 days later. If an abscess is present, it will not resolve on its own, and pain will persist.
The two proctologists reviewed various interventions for managing hemorrhoidal conditions, underscoring the benefits of minimally invasive surgery as an alternative to hemorrhoidectomy for treating grade 2 or 3 hemorrhoidal prolapse.
Hemorrhoidal disease involves abnormal dilation of the vascular system in the anus and rectum. External hemorrhoids affect the external vascular plexus, while internal hemorrhoids occur in the upper part of the anal canal at the internal plexus.
Hygiene and Dietary Guidelines
Common symptoms include light to heavy bleeding during bowel movements and the sensation of a lump inside the anus. In some cases, this is accompanied by throbbing pain, which suggests hemorrhoidal thrombosis, a condition often associated with a painful external swelling. Hemorrhoidal prolapse, meanwhile, is characterized by the protrusion of internal hemorrhoids and is classified into four grades:
Grade 1: Hemorrhoids emerge during straining but do not protrude externally.
Grade 2: Hemorrhoids protrude but spontaneously retract after straining.
Grade 3: Hemorrhoids protrude with straining and require manual reinsertion.
Grade 4: Prolapse is permanent.
In all cases, medical treatment is recommended as the initial approach. European guidelines recommend to first implement lifestyle and dietary measures, encouraging regular physical activity and adequate water and fiber intake to promote intestinal transit. Laxatives may also be recommended.
Elastic Band Ligation
For hemorrhoidal thrombosis, NSAIDs and non-opioid analgesics are recommended as first-line treatments. For patients with contraindications to NSAIDs, such as pregnant women, corticosteroid treatment may be administered, although it is less effective. Routine incision is no longer recommended, according to de Parades.
For prolapsed internal hemorrhoids, instrumental treatment is recommended as a second-line option if medical management fails for grades 1 and 2, or for isolated grade 3 hemorrhoids. With sclerotherapy injections largely phased out, two options remain: Infrared photocoagulation and elastic band ligation.
The objective of instrumental treatment is to create a scar at the top of the hemorrhoidal plexus to reduce vascularization and secure the hemorrhoid to the rectal wall. When correctly performed above the insensitive mucosal area in the anal canal, the procedure is painless.
Ligation involves placing an elastic band at the base of the hemorrhoid, with the intervention taking only a few minutes. “Within 4 weeks, the hemorrhoid disappears,” explained de Parades. Photocoagulation is a more superficial treatment requiring several spaced sessions, mainly to address bleeding.
Advances in Minimally Invasive Surgery
Surgery is recommended if instrumental treatment fails and as a first-line option for circular grade 3 hemorrhoids (multiple hemorrhoidal masses) and grade 4 cases.
Milligan-Morgan hemorrhoidectomy is considered the “gold standard” surgical technique and is used primarily for grades 2, 3, and 4 cases. This technique involves resecting the three main hemorrhoidal bundles while preserving surrounding tissue, providing a “radical and definitive” treatment.
While effective in the long term, hemorrhoid bundle resection requires a lengthy healing process and typically requires the patient to take 15-20 days off work. It is also not recommended for people who engage in anal intercourse, as “removing hemorrhoidal tissue can reduce flexibility and sensation in the anal canal,” Fathallah noted.
Another widely used technique in France is Doppler-guided hemorrhoidal artery ligation, which selectively reduces blood flow to the hemorrhoidal plexus. It is often combined with a mucopexy to secure the prolapse above the anal canal and restore normal anatomy.
Minimally invasive surgery is today increasingly considered an alternative to hemorrhoidectomy for treating grade 2 or 3 hemorrhoidal prolapse.
Laser and radiofrequency techniques induce submucosal coagulation, reducing arterial flow and creating fibrous tissue to retract the hemorrhoidal bundle. Because the procedure is applied above the anal canal, “it is associated with little or no pain.”
Hemorrhoidal Embolization
Recent studies have validated the benefits of minimally invasive surgery for this condition. In a French multicenter study, radiofrequency treatment significantly improved quality of life 3 months post-operation, requiring only 4 days off work. The vast majority of patients said they were satisfied with the results.
The procedure is less uncomfortable than hemorrhoidectomy and allows for quicker recovery, but it carries a risk for recurrence. In the French study, nearly 8% of patients required reoperation within a year, mostly by hemorrhoidectomy. “The estimated recurrence rate is 20%-30% over 10 years,” said de Parades.
Overall, the specialist emphasized the value of surgery, including hemorrhoidectomy, in treating hemorrhoidal prolapse. With substantial benefits from minimally invasive options, “patients should be referred early” to prevent prolapse progression “that might leave no choice but hemorrhoidectomy.”
Finally, another technique is available for bleeding without prolapse: Hemorrhoidal embolization. Practiced for about a decade, the procedure involves blocking blood flow to the hemorrhoids by inserting tiny metal coils through a catheter, which is inserted via a transcutaneous route through an artery in the arm.
This story was translated from Medscape’s French edition using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.
 
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