Hemorrhoids are a painful condition caused by pressure build-up in veins in the anus and rectum region. It often results in symptoms such as pain, itching, and bleeding during bowel movements.
Conservative treatments such as diet changes and stool softeners may provide temporary relief, but sometimes surgery may be required for lasting relief. Hemorrhoid energy therapy (HET), however, offers innovative surgical solutions without traditional incisions or staples – HET.
What is Hemorrhoid Energy Therapy (HET)?
Hemorrhoid energy therapy (HET), with the HET bipolar system, is a non-invasive solution for managing symptoms associated with low-grade internal hemorrhoids of grades I and II. HET utilizes safe low-grade heat energy to safely shrink hemorrhoidal tissue while simultaneously limiting collateral damage such as burns or bleeding; all while remaining virtually pain-free during a quick and straightforward treatment session either at work or home.
Hemorrhoids, or hemorrhagic veins, are collections of blood vessels in your anus and lower rectum that resemble varicose veins in their appearance. Hemorrhoids may form due to straining during bowel movements or pregnancy pressure as well as other sources such as sitting for too long which increases pressure on veins in your rectum causing them to expand further. Hemorrhoids are extremely common but when affected veins swell they can become very painful – which makes them much like varicose veins do when affected veins become swollen!
Your healthcare provider will insert the HET device into the anus to apply a combination of gentle hemorrhoid tissue compression and low-grade heat energy near hemorrhoids, which minimizes blood flow to that area and shrinks inflamed hemorrhoids in just minutes – often returning patients back to their regular activities immediately afterwards.
How is Hemorrhoid Energy Therapy (HET) Different from Other Hemorrhoid Treatment Options?
Hemorrhoid Energy Therapy is an easy, noninvasive solution that offers fast relief from itching, bleeding and rectal discomfort caused by hemorrhoids. This therapy uses low-grade heat applied directly over the hemorrhoids in order to minimize blood flow and shrink any inflamed portions.
Hemorrhoids are swollen veins that develop on the anus and rectum, leading to itching, bleeding and painful bowel movement experience. While most hemorrhoids improve with diet rich in fiber or topical creams for hemorrhoid treatment or sitz baths; they can persist and even become chronic and remain an uncomfortable presence for longer than anticipated.
Hemorrhoid surgery may be suggested for patients to relieve symptoms and increase quality of life. There are various procedures available, each offering their own advantages and disadvantages – it is important that you speak to a colorectal surgeon or proctologist prior to selecting your ideal hemorrhoid treatment option.
As well as traditional surgical solutions, there are also noninvasive hemorrhoid treatments that can be completed quickly in a medical office or outpatient setting, including rubber band ligation, infrared photocoagulation and stapled hemorrhoidopexy.
Rubber band ligation involves healthcare professionals using forceps to grab an internal hemorrhoid and then placing a rubber band around it, cutting off its blood supply and leading it to shrink and dissolve within days. Meanwhile, infrared coagulation uses an infrared light beam sent into an internal hemorrhoid, creating scar tissue while simultaneously cutting off its blood supply, leading to quicker recovery times and reduced pain levels.
Hemorrhoidal Artery Embolization (HAE) is another minimally invasive hemorrhoid surgery option available, performed by interventional radiologists using small catheters inserted into either the groin or wrist and guided toward the superior rectal artery, which supplies hemorrhoids. At that point, metallic coils or medical beads containing medical grade adhesives are inserted into this artery, blocking its blood supply and thus preventing new hemorrhoids from forming.
Stapled hemorrhoidopexy is a surgical procedure used to treat large external and prolapsing or bleeding internal hemorrhoids that do not respond to other treatments. A healthcare professional uses a circular stapling device, lifting the hemorrhoids while cutting off their blood supply – although this approach can be painful, it has proved highly effective and should only be considered if there are no alternative solutions. While effective, pain-numbing medication should also be available.
How is Hemorrhoid Energy Therapy (HET) performed?
HET is an easy and non-surgical solution to hemorrhoids. Utilizing a device inserted into the anus that applies low thermal energy to shrink hemorrhoids, HET typically takes only 30-60 minutes per treatment session under sedation and multiple sessions may be necessary to reach relief for symptoms.
The HET bipolar system uses low-grade heat energy to target hemorrhoids and significantly reduce their size by restricting blood flow to them and significantly shrinking their size. Treatment usually takes 8-12 seconds per hemorrhoid; unlike other hemorrhoid treatment options, HET’s treatment takes place above the pain line so there is no discomfort during or after its implementation.
Hemorrhoids, or collections of blood vessels in the lower rectum that everyone possesses and which can become very painful when they enlarge, can be managed through Hemorrhoid Energy Therapy as a minimally invasive solution to alleviate symptoms and keep them from returning. Our team of gastroenterology specialists at Gastroenterology Associates of Florida recommend Hemorrhoid Energy Therapy as a non-invasive way to eliminate symptoms while preventing future episodes from returning. Schedule an appointment now with our specialists so we can find out which treatment option will best meet your unique needs – call us at 850-583-4900 or request one online; consultations are free of charge with no obligations attached.
