Left untreated, chronic hemorrhoids can prolapse or even burst. They can also cause blood clots, infection, perianal thrombosis and other health conditions.
Hemorrhoidectomy is a surgical procedure to remove chronic hemorrhoids. However, this approach has risks and complications can include infection, bleeding, difficulty emptying the bladder, rectal prolapse and more. In addition, it can be as long as 3-6 weeks before a full recovery.
At PrecisionIR, we offer an alternative treatment for chronic hemorrhoids:
Hemorrhoidal artery embolization (HAE)
HAE is a new and less invasive procedure to treat chronic, persistent hemorrhoids. During the procedure, our interventional radiologist inserts a catheter into an artery in the upper thigh, then advances it through the blood vessels to the rectal artery. A metal coil (or coils) is placed into the artery, which cuts off the blood supply to the hemorrhoid(s). This causes them to shrink, and symptoms are relieved. HAE is an outpatient procedure, and you are able to return home the same day and resume most normal activities.
HAE FAQs
Most Americans will experience hemorrhoids at some point, and most will go away over time. For some people, however, hemorrhoids and their bothersome symptoms persist for several months or more. These are called chronic hemorrhoids, and treatment may be required for them.
Hemorrhoidal artery embolization (HAE) is a minimally invasive, image-guided procedure performed by an interventional radiologist, a specialized doctor who performs treatments from inside the body using tiny catheters guided through the vascular system. The abnormal blood vessels within the rectum are embolized (blocked) to prevent the flow of blood into the hemorrhoid. This effectively shrinks the hemorrhoid and alleviates the associated symptoms.
The HAE procedure is performed in our outpatient center and takes about an hour. After the procedure, you will be monitored for about an hour and then you may return home.
Hemorrhoidectomy surgery requires general anesthesia and a hospital in which to perform the surgery. The recovery is long and can be painful, made more difficult due to the need to have daily bowel movements. Banding is less invasive, but can still have a painful recovery for the same reasons. HAE is an outpatient procedure that requires just a small nick in the wrist or thigh to access the blood stream. There is less risk compared with surgery and a faster, less painful recovery.
The risk of complications is very low with HAE, and may include mild, temporary pain or discomfort at the catheter insertion site.
Clinical studies have shown up to 93% of patients experience significant symptom improvement as a result of the HAE procedure.
Sandeep Bagla, MD et al. Outcomes of Hemorrhoidal Artery Embolization from a Multidisciplinary Outpatient Interventional Center. Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology Volume 34, Issue 5 p745-749May 2023
While individual results vary, up to 75% of patients continue to report significant symptom relief at 12 months after the procedure.
Most insurance plans and Medicare cover the HAE procedure. If you would like to know if your insurance covers HAE, please contact our center.