New revolutionary treatment that destroys piles

Almost half the adult population is affected by piles at some point

A NEW surgical procedure that gets rid of piles by zapping them via the jugular vein in the neck could revolutionise the way this painful and embarrassing problem is treated.

 

Haemorrhoids, also known as piles, are swellings that contain enlarged blood vessels found inside or around the rectum and anus.

Almost half the adult population in the UK is affected at some point in their lives. Being overweight, pregnant or having a family history of haemorrhoids can increase the risk of developing them.

Most cases are mild but the swellings can cause extreme itchiness and soreness as well as bleeding.

Traditional treatments for more troublesome cases include banding, injections, stitching or stapling and in some cases surgery to remove the swollen blood vessels, although this can be painful and carries the risk of infection.

The new procedure which is called Hembolize was developed in the UK by vein specialist Professor Mark Whiteley.

It aims to offer a virtually pain-free, long-term solution to the problem by permanently destroying the affected veins.

"The treatment is unique in that it completely avoids much of the embarrassment and discomfort often associated with haemorrhoid procedures by attacking the problem via the neck rather than the anal canal," says Professor Whiteley.

"It also ensures that the problem veins are destroyed, limiting the possibility of the condition reoccurring."

Normally internal iliac veins take blood from deep in the pelvis up into the vein system and back towards the heart, against the force of gravity. When the valves inside the vein stop working properly blood can flow backwards or "reflux" just like varicose veins in the legs. When this happens in the internal iliac veins it can cause haemorrhoids, pelvic congestion syndrome and vulval/ vaginal varicose veins to develop.

 

The Hembolize procedure treats the problem by blocking the rectal veins, stopping the reflux and limiting the blood flow to the haemorrhoids. Carried out under local anaesthetic and guided by X-ray control, ultrasound is used to place a needle into the internal jugular vein in the neck.

A tube is then placed over the top and passed down through the veins in the chest and abdomen into the internal iliac veins and rectal veins in the pelvis.

ONCE the tube is in position foam sclerotherapy is injected into the affected vein, followed by a coil made of metal which permanently destroys the vein and stops the flow of blood into the haemorrhoid.

 

The new treatment involves inserting the tube into the neck

Finally the tube is then slowly removed with pressure placed on the pinhole in the neck for five minutes. Recovery time for the procedure is minimal and following the operation, which costs from £4,500, the haemorrhoids should reduce in pressure and size, causing the bleeding to slow and then stop.

One patient, Tony Hawes 53, from Essex, who had the treatment in March this year, says: "The procedure was very quick and did not cause me any pain. I was able to return to work the next day without any problems."

In some patients a follow-up injection might be required after a couple of months to remove the final veins.

• Visit hembolize.com for more information on this treatment.