The place of alternative treatment methods for haemorrhoidal disease in the modern therapeutic algorithm

Abstract

It is estimated that haemorrhoids affect more than half of the population over50 years of age. The main symptoms of haemorrhoidal disease include bleeding,haemorrhoidal prolapse, discomfort, burning, itching and a feeling of incompleteevacuation. The severity of symptoms depends on many factors. The treatmentof haemorrhoidal disease is primarily aimed to limit the symptoms, which can beachieved via conservative, interventional or surgical treatment. Indications for interventional treatment include symptomatic stage II and III haemorrhoidal diseasewhen conservative therapy does not bring the desired effect, or the effect is onlytemporary. The search for alternative methods for the treatment of haemorrhoidsresults in new solutions as well as further modifications of the existing treatments,which is aimed at therapeutic outcome improvement and treatment individualisation.Alternative interventional therapies include Barron’s method, Sclerotherapy, DGHAL,cryotherapy, unipolar and low-voltage diathermy (Hemoron), bipolar electrocautery,CO2, diode and Nd:YAG laser. The article presents current data on the effectiveness ofthese methods based on the latest literature and published studies. The authors alsopoint to limitations and complications associated with the described methods.