Review
Copyright ©2012 Baishideng Publishing Group Co.
World J Gastroenterol. May 7, 2012; 18(17): 2009-2017
Published online May 7, 2012. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v18.i17.2009
Table 1 Current management of internal hemorrhoids by grade
TreatmentsGradeIGrade IIGrade IIIGrade IVAcute thrombosis or strangulation
Dietary and lifestyle modification×××××
Medical treatment×××-selected
Non-operative treatment
Sclerotherapy××
Infrared coagulation××
Radiofrequency ablation××
Rubber band ligation×××-selected
Operative treatment
Plication××
DGHAL××
Hemorrhoidectomy×-selected×××-emergency
Stapled hemorrhoidopexy××
Table 2 Selected meta-analyses showing various treatment options for hemorrhoidal disease (in order of publication year)
AuthorsCharacteristics of comparative studiesNumber of trials (total cases)Results
Johanson et al[23]IC, IS and RBL5 (863)RBL had greater long-term efficacy, but led to a higher incidence of post-treatment pain. IC was associated with both fewer and less severe complications
MacRae et al[24]IC, IS, RBL, manual anal dilation and hemorrhoidectomy18 (1952)1Hemorrhoidectomy was more effective than manual anal dilation and RBL, but more pain and complications. RBL had greater efficacy than IS for treating grade I-III hemorrhoids, with no difference in the complication rate. Patients treated with IC or IS were more likely to require further therapy
Shanmugam et al[25]RBL vs hemorrhoidectomy3 (202)Hemorrhoidectomy was superior to RBL for the long-term treatment of grade III, not grade II, hemorrhoids. Although hemorrhoidectomy had more pain, higher complications and more time off work, patient satisfaction and acceptance of the two treatment modalities seems to be similar
Alonso-Coello et al[26]Fiber vs no therapy7 (378)Fiber reduced the risk of bleeding and persisting by 50% and 47%, respectively, but it had no significant effect on pain and prolapse
Alonso-Coello et al[27]Oral flavonoids vs placebo or no therapy14 (1514)Flavonoids reduced the risk of bleeding, pain, persisting symptoms and recurrence by 67%, 65%, 58% and 47%, respectively
Ho et al[28]Closed vs open hemorrhoidectomy6 (686)Closed hemorrhoidectomy had faster wound healing but longer operating time. There was no difference in treatment efficacy, pain, complication and hospital stay between the two operations
Nienhuijs et al[29]Conventional vs ligasure hemorrhoidectomy12 (1142)Ligasure hemorrhoidectomy resulted in significantly shorter operative time, less early postoperative pain, earlier recovery, without any difference in recurrent bleeding or incontinence
Burch et al[30]Hemorrhoidectomy vs SH27 (2279)SH had less postoperative pain, shorter operative time, shorter hospital stay, and shorter convalescence, but a higher rate of prolapse and reintervention for prolapse
Giordano et al[31]Hemorrhoidectomy vs SH (minimum follow-up of 1 yr)15 (1201)SH had a significantly higher incidence of recurrences and additional operations
Gan et al[32]Various TCMH vs another TCMH or Western medicines9 (1822)TCMHs significantly improved overall symptoms and bleeding as well as decreased the inflammation of perianal mucosa
Table 3 Summary of different philosophies regarding the pathogenesis of hemorrhoids and related surgical approaches
TheoryShort descriptionSurgical approach
Sliding anal cushionsHemorrhoids develop when the supporting tissues of the anal cushions disintegrate or deteriorateHemorrhoidectomy, plication
Rectal redundancyHemorrhoidal prolapse is associated with an internal rectal prolapseStapled hemorrhoidopexy
Vascular abnormalityHyperperfusion of arteriovenous plexus within anal cushion results in the formation of hemorrhoidsDoppler-guided hemorrhoidal artery ligation