One reason people do not talk about hemorrhoid problems with their doctor is because they anticipate a painful, traditional hemorrhoid surgery.
A minimally invasive surgical approach now available in the United States, called Procedure for Prolapse and Hemorrhoids (PPH), may help patients recover from hemorrhoid surgery faster with less pain when compared to conventional hemorrhoidectomy procedures.
PPH Hemorrhoid Surgery Patient Indication
The Procedure for Prolapse and Hemorrhoids is indicated for patients with:
Second degree hemorrhoids after failure of multiple rubber band ligation
Third and fourth degree hemorrhoids
Rectal mucosal prolapse
Important Consideration
The Procedure for Prolapse and Hemorrhoids should be considered when non-operative methods of hemorrhoid treatment do not provide satisfactory, long-term relief of hemorrhoidal disease and your physician recommends hemorrhoid surgery treatment.
PPH Hemorrhoid Surgery Risks and Complications
As with any surgical procedure, there are risks that accompany PPH:
If too much muscle tissue is drawn into the device, it can result in damage to the rectal wall resulting in inflammation or infection.
The internal muscles of the sphincter may be damaged, resulting in short-term or long-term dysfunction, such as severe pain or incontinence.
Questions to Ask Your Doctor
Before choosing a surgical procedure for the treatment of hemorrhoids, there are questions you should ask your surgeon:
What types of hemorrhoid procedures have they performed?
How many of each procedure have they performed?
Why are they recommending one particular hemorrhoid procedure over another?
How long will the procedure take?
Will this procedure require a hospital stay and, if so, for how long?
How long will the recovery process take?
How soon can “normal” diet and activity be resumed?
Will having the procedure require any long-term changes in work, diet, and activity?
What are the potential risks and complications of conventional hemorrhoidectomy?
What are the potential risks and complications of PPH hemorrhoid surgery?