Haemorrhoidectomy
Haemorrhoidectomy is an operation to remove severe haemorrhoids (also known as piles). It is usually a day procedure and is usually carried out under a general anaesthetic. The procedure is common and generally safe, but recovery after the surgery can take a few weeks and can be painful.
Most haemorrhoids can either be treated with medicines or non-surgical procedures or avoided with appropriate diet and exercise.
If non-surgical treatments don't work, or the haemorrhoids are particularly large, a doctor might suggest a haemorrhoidectomy.
Removing the haemorrhoids will relieve the uncomfortable symptoms, but haemorrhoids can also return.
Haemorrhoids are lumps that occur inside and around the anal canal.
You will be asked not to eat or drink some hours before admission to the clinic. If you usually take blood-thinning medication, you might be asked to stop taking it some days before the procedure.
You might also be asked to take an enema or laxative to empty out your bowel.
There are several types of haemorrhoidectomy procedure:
- The haemorrhoids can be cut away.
- The haemorrhoids can be pulled back inside the rectum and stapled in place.
- The arteries supplying blood to the haemorrhoids can be closed to help them shrink.