Anal cushion lifting method is a novel radical management strategy for hemorrhoids that does not involve excision or cause postoperative anal complications

Minimally Invasive Treatment for Advanced Hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids, the most common anorectal disease, give rise to symptoms such as bleeding, prolapse, and pruritus. The treatment for advanced hemorrhoids (Grade III or IV) is gradually shifting toward minimally invasive procedures. These procedures focus on reduction of blood flow in hemorrhoids. Conventional hemorrhoidectomy (CH), also known as Milligan-Morgan or Ferguson hemorrhoidectomy, is considered as the standard treatment for Grade III and IV hemorrhoids because it achieves the lowest recurrence rate. Over the years, alternative minimally invasive techniques such as stapled hemorrhoidopexy and transanal hemorrhoidal dearterialization (THD) have been developed. A new, effective sclerosant, aluminum potassium sulfate and tannic acid (ALTA), has been developed in Japan and has been used for all grades of hemorrhoids; however, its effectiveness declines over time. Other minimally invasive, nonsurgical procedures, including rubber band ligation, endoscopic injection sclerotherapy, and infrared coagulation, have also been performed for Grade III hemorrhoids. Those minimally invasive treatments improve bleeding and prolapse and are highly recommended for patients who are unfit for CH. THD with mucopexy or ALTA sclerotherapy has also been performed for Grade IV hemorrhoids. However, the recurrence rate after ALTA sclerotherapy for Grade IV hemorrhoids was higher than that for Grade III lesions in our case study. In conclusion, minimally invasive treatments are a valid alternative for patients with advanced hemorrhoids after clear explanation of recurrence rates and possible complications.

Treatment Result of the Mucopexy-Recto Anal Lifting Method for Hemorrhoids in Comparison with Ligation and Excision, and Aluminum Potassium Sulfate and Tannic Acid Sclerotherapy

The outcomes of Mucopexy-Recto Anal Lifting (MuRAL) in hemorrhoid surgery were compared with ligation and excision (LE), and aluminum potassium sulfate and tannic acid sclerotherapy (ALTA). In this study, we conducted a 3-year follow-up study of MuRAL (380 cases) and compared it with LE (1417 cases) and ALTA (541 cases) performed at the same period. Operative time, mean hospital stay, postoperative pain, postoperative complications, and recurrence were compared and examined retrospectively. The mean operative time was the longest for MuRAL, followed by LE, and then ALTA at 29.1, 21.5, and 12.4 minutes, and the mean length of hospital stay was 6.2, 10.6, and 1.3, days, respectively. Based on the frequency of injectable analgesic use, postoperative pain was clearly milder in MuRAL and ALTA than in LE. The recurrence rates were 3.2% with MuRAL, 1.1% with LE, and 12.4% with ALTA. Early postoperative low-grade fever and bowel movement urgency were observed in all surgeries, but these were minor and did not pose a safety problem. LE is painful and requires prolonged hospitalization but is the most curative; ALTA is simple and can be performed as a day surgery but has a high recurrence rate. MuRAL was less painful than LE and had a lower recurrence rate than ALTA. In recent years, there have been various innovations in the surgical treatment of hemorrhoids, and choosing a technique that is appropriate for the condition of the hemorrhoid and patient's needs is necessary. MuRAL can be one of the options for hemorrhoid treatment as a “cure without cutting” method.