Haemorrhoids

The haemorrhoids are the result of the stretching of the interior layer of the rectum, so-called mucus. We can consider that the haemorrhoids are more a wrinkle than a vein or a varicose vein.

The main symptoms of the haemorrhoids are:

  • Bleeding: very reddish blood especially when defecating.
  • Prolapse: when defecating, the patient feels something coming out from the inside of the rectum that returns spontaneously or the patient replaces it manually.
  • Anal upsets: they appear after ingesting some irritant substances such as alcohol, pepper, coffee, etc. These substances can provoke aches, but they don’t cause haemorrhoids. Haemorrhoids are due to constipation, sedentary lifestyle, some kinds of food, and prolonged efforts when defecation, frequently associated wtih the bad habit of reading at the toilet for long periods.
Tratamiento de la trombosis hemorroidal - Instituto Dr. Padrón

How to treat them?

Several modern techniques have been well-established in the treatment of the haemorrhoids to improve the classic surgical removal.
It is common knowledge that these classic techniques are very painful and they have slow recovery, even when the operation is done with such modern instruments as the laser.

Amongst the modern techniques, the elastic ligature, or ligature with elastic band, is considered ideal because of its security, fast recovery, simplicity and minimum chance of pain.
This technique consists on the suppression of the blood flow to the haemorrhoid tissue through an elastic ring previously stretched and located around a sucking capsule. This capsule provokes, the necrosis (destruction) of the haemorrhoid tissue causing its disappearance.

For most of the patients, three sessions of elastic ligature, with a month’s interval between each session, is normally enough to cure haemorrhoids.

The technique does not need any rest and its application is normally painless. Nevertheless, it usually provokes a feeling of evacuating reflex (rectal tenesmus). This is a false feeling at the beginning, which can end with the need of real defecation a few minutes later. This
sensation can last two or three hours. The patient should refrain from defecation efforts during the first three hours after the placing of the rings.
After placing the ring, it is normal to experience very small bleeding with the first defecations.

In the following month to each session of elastic ligature, it is important not to take any medicines that can alter the mechanisms of blood coagulation, specially the anticoagulant ones (Heparin, Sinthrome, etc.) or anti-aggregant platelets (Tiklid, Aspirine, Adiro, Plavix, etc.) as well as most anti-inflammatory medicines. The existence of an ulcer at the same level of the rings could provoke bleeding between fifteen and twenty days after their placing. This normally happens with any ulcer somewhere else, if these kind of medicines are taken.
It is important to mention the prohibition of the acetylsalicylic acid, which is the sole or partial component of the Aspirine, Adiro, Couldina, Alka-Seltzer, etc.
In case of needing an analgesic, please use Nolotil, Termalgin, Gelocatil, Dolagial, etc.
The appearance of haemorrhage between fifteen and twenty days after the session of elastic ligature is extremely rare in patients who have not taken medication that interfere with coagulation.