New ambulatory treatment with radiofrequency for internal symptomatic hemorrhoids: morbidity evaluation

Chronic haemorrhoidal symptoms secondary to internal haemorrhoids can be treated with several out-patients conservative procedures. On 1993 the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons proposed the rubber band ligation (RBL) as the treatment of choice for first and second degree haemorrhoids that are complicated with symptoms of bleeding and/or prolapse [1]. This procedure is simple, relatively painless for the patient, unlike a surgical intervention. However, this method in a single session is followed by some discomfort for the patients and often is associated with unpleasant side effects [2]. In patients with bleeding haemorrhoids as the prevalent symptom a treatment with Infrared Coagulation (IC) can be a good alternative [1]. We describe a new technique for the ambulatory treatment of internal haemorrhoids using radiofrequency coagulation and report our results.