HAEMORRHOID EMBOLIZATION
This procedure is currently a topic of international research. Its long term efficacy has not yet been established. At present the procedure is only funded by Medical Funders in patients suffering from significant bleeding.
This procedure is currently a topic of international research. Its long term efficacy has not yet been established. At present the procedure is only funded by Medical Funders in patients suffering from significant bleeding.
‘Embolization’ essentially involves medical particles or ‘coils’ to block off the blood flow to the area that is being treated.
Because the haemorrhoid is an imbalance between the blood going to the rectum (via the arteries) and the blood going away from the rectum (via the veins), if there is more blood going to the rectum than going away, blood begins to pool in the dilated anal cushions/veins forming a haemorrhoid.
Most treatments currently offered focus on treating the veins directly however the embolization procedure actually treats the problem from the arterial side by blocking the blood flow flowing into the haemorrhoid tissue instead of surgically removing the damaged anal cushions haemorrhoids. So, in essence, this is a great way of preventing haemorrhoid formation too! By reducing the blood flowing into the haemorrhoid it does not enlarge, bleed or cause pain.
Haemorrhoid embolization is a newly established way of treating the symptoms of haemorrhoids before having to commit to more permanent but more painful surgeries.
A small catheter is placed into the radial artery via a tiny pinhole in the wrist and navigated into the small arteries that supply the haemorrhoids. Small ‘microcoils’ are then deployed into these arteries causing blockage of blood flow.
The tiny ‘nest’ of platinum alloy that is placed in the arteries that supply blood flow to the haemorrhoids.
Blockage of blood flow results in the haemorrhoids shrinking over time. Instead of treating the haemorrhoid surgically, embolization treats the haemorrhoid from its source in a minimally-invasive, painless way.
The procedure takes approximately 40minutes depending on how difficult it is to access the arteries which sometimes come off at tricky angles.
The procedures is performed under ‘deep sedation’ which essentially means a deep sleep. This involves medication given into the drip as opposed to general anaesthetic which is when a tube is inserted into the throat. It is therefore safer and associated with less complications.
No. Most patients can go home the same day unless your bleeding was very severe before the procedure and your doctors wants to keep you for a little longer.
The procedure is very low risk but of course, any anaesthetic carries a small risk of allergy or reaction. The anesthetic is a deep sedation and therefore is much safer than a full general anesthetic. The procedure is most often done through the wrist which can result in some bruising and injury to the artery this is also very rarely a significant problem.