They say that they suffer in silence, but it is an annoying pathology that affects the lives of many people, because it is quite common. Hemorrhoids have a solution and do not necessarily undergo complex interventions that require a long and painful postoperative period.
Dr. Maite López, head of the Asuncion Clinica General Surgery Service, talks to us about this disease and how new technologies, such as radiofrequency, are being applied at the Tolosa center, allowing us to treat this problem safely, easily and solve effectively. : in a single intervention, without the need for admission and with hardly any postoperative discomfort.
The first thing to know is what hemorrhoids really are: «they are veins that should be around and inside the anus, which correspond to vascular pedicles and which, at a certain point in time, lose that support due to various circumstances that sustains them. in the inner part of the anus. This can be caused by various circumstances such as “hormonal changes, increased pelvic pressure, post-pregnancy conditions…”, explains Dr. Mayte López. Because of this “hemorrhoids stop being inside and come out. And it is the prolapse that causes the characteristic symptoms of hemorrhoids.
What does a person suffering from hemorrhoids notice?: « They give quite a variety of symptoms: prickling, itching, itching, sensation of a lump in the anal area, bleeding … These are symptoms that are within that non-specificity Which they may have a response to a pathology in the form of hemorrhoids or a more serious pathology.
Constipation and unhealthy lifestyle habits can lead to the appearance of hemorrhoids and to avoid it it is advised to “take enough fiber, fruits, vegetables, exercise, avoid constipation …”. As Dr. Lopez says, “It’s also important not to spend a lot of time sitting when you have a bowel movement.”
Maite López also points out that “hemorrhoids are a dynamic disease. They are veins that have lost their grip and are about to prolapse. If we find ourselves in a moment of hemorrhagic crisis, hemorrhoidal congestion may Has occurred and is a complication that can be resolved. But it is very likely that there will be another hemorrhagic crisis later. Depending on how interior hemorrhoid remains, decides the therapeutic option to be taken. .
When it comes to treating hemorrhoids, “the traditional technique has always been to remove the vein. Complete resection of the hemorrhoidal pedicle is performed. But there are different options depending on the symptoms and the gradation that we surgeons use. When the major symptom is bleeding, bleeding is reduced with increased fiber intake and lifestyle changes.
There are also other less invasive, non-traumatic techniques that don’t require an operating room “such as the application of a band.” As Maite López explains, “This involves reducing the size of the hemorrhoid and placing a band around it to make it look like it’s collapsing.” If that proves insufficient, “we’ll have to do something more aggressive.” Hemorrhoid removal surgery “is usually painful because of the bruising.”
That’s why at Asuncion Clinica “we use innovative techniques that involve burning the hemorrhoids from the inside. This is radiofrequency, which uses thermal energy to burn symptomatic hemorrhoids. And makes it disappear without pain.
Maite López explains well what this technique consists of: «What we do is apply anesthesia from the waist down. A small needle is inserted into the hemorrhoid and heat is applied.” After this short intervention, “there is no wound, avoiding the complications of traditional surgery such as scarring, stenosis, postoperative bleeding, pain, risk of infection … the patient goes home on foot and that’s all a mild analgesic takes for two or three days. This technique “barely requires sick leave.”
