HEMORRHOID BANDING

What are Hemorrhoids?

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Hemorrhoids is a very common condition. Almost every three out of four adults experience hemorrhoids at least at one point in their life. These are dilated veins located in the walls of the rectum and lower part of anus.

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What are the treatment methods of Hemorrhoids?

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Hemorrhoids re treated by making certain modification in the diet and lifestyle. Along with this conservative management, following endoscopic procedures are also performed in cases which do not respond to usual medications and remedies:

• Rubber band ligation of hemorrhoid

• Laser therapy/HET

• Hemorrhoid removal

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What is Rubber Band Ligation of Hemorrhoids?

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Rubber band ligation is a minimally invasive surgical treatment if hemorrhoids. In banding, a rubber band is tied around the base off the hemorrhoids which stops the blood flow to the hemorrhoids. The ischemic hemorrhoids eventually undergo necrosis and shed off.

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Why is Banding done?

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Hemorrhoids usually do not respond to the home remedies and become extremely painful and cause of discomfort. Such types of hemorrhoids give a very good response to band ligation technique.

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How is Banding done?

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Banding is an outpatient procedure and does not require patient to stay in the hospital. The procedure performed in following steps:

• General or topical anesthesia. over the rectum is given
• An anoscope is inserted into the rectum by the doctor, until it reaches the hemorrhoid. Anoscope is a small flexible tube which has a light at its end.
• A Ligator is then inserted through the anoscope which is used to ligate the base of hemorrhoids using one or two rubber bands.

The same process is repeated for other hemorrhoids

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What are the potential risks of Hemorrhoid Banding?

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Despite being a safe procedure, banding has certain risks which a gastroenterologist can not ignore. The risks are:

• Infection
• Excessive bleeding during movements of bowel
• Fever
• Difficulty in urinating
• Recurring hemorrhoids

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