Prospective study of rubber band ligation of hemorrhoids in Sulaimany, Kurdistan region, Iraq

Abstract EN

Background and Objectives Hemorrhoids is a common disease.

There are different lines of treatment of hemorrhoids.

The objective of the study is to determine the effectiveness and the safety of rubber band ligation of hemorrhoids as an outpatient surgical clinic procedure.

Methods A prospective study was done over a period of one year, from 1st July 2007 to 31st June 2008, during that period, 322 patients with symptomatic hemorrhoids were seen in a private outpatient surgical clinic.

Out of those 322 patients, 108 patients were selected whom they had second and third degree hemorrhoids.

Data were collected about their presenting symptoms, physical examination and proctoscopic appearance.

They were treated with rubber band ligation, and were followed up for a period of one year.

Out of those 108 patients, 9 patients failed to complete the follow up and they were excluded from the study.

Outcome data were recorded from the remaining 99 patients and studied for success of the treatment and complications.

Results Out of those 99 patients treated with RBL, 89 (89.89%) patients became free from symptoms and cured, 10 patients (10.1%) remained symptomatic and treated with conventional hemorrhoidectomy.

Conclusion From this study it was found that the RBL of hemorrhoids performed as an outpatient surgical clinic procedure, is easy, convenient and successful procedure for treatment of 2nd and 3rd degree symptomatic hemorrhoids.