Alternative Surgical Treatment for Hemorrhoids Now Available at Golden Valley Memorial Hospital

Procedure for Prolapse and Hemorrhoids shown to reduce pain and recovery time

According to the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons, half of all Americans will develop hemorrhoids during their lifetimes. Unfortunately, many people with hemorrhoids suffer in silence, embarrassed by the nature of the ailment, or of the often painful hemorrhoidectomy procedure that was a doctor’s only answer to correct the condition until a few years ago.  GVMH is now helping chronic hemorrhoid sufferers get relief with the introduction of the Procedure for Prolapse and Hemorrhoids (PPH). 
For patients who require surgery for their severe hemorrhoids, PPH is an alternative surgical procedure that offers less pain and a quicker recovery time than traditional hemorrhoidectomy. With more than 20,000 PPH procedures performed in 2004, this approach, which was introduced in the United States in October 2001, has grown in popularity among physicians.
“For years, physicians and patients have been awaiting a surgical treatment for hemorrhoids that causes less pain and offers a shorter recovery period than traditional procedures, and now we have one,” said LeRoy D. Wombold, D.O. “From the patient’s perspective, the relief of pain and effect on well being is dramatic.”
Several clinical studies have shown positive results for this procedure. Compared to patients receiving a conventional hemorrhoidectomy, patients undergoing the PPH procedure:

• Experience less post-operative pain
• Spend less time in the hospital
• Suffer less post-operative itching
• Experience less post-operative incontinence and constipation
• Return to normal activities, including work, in a significantly shorter amount of time

PPH — How it Works

• Using a stapling device, the PPH procedure essentially “lifts up” and repositions the mucosa, or anal canal tissue, and reduces blood flow to the internal hemorrhoids. These internal hemorrhoids then typically shrink within four to six weeks after the procedure. The PPH procedure results in less pain than traditional procedures because it is performed above the “pain” line, or dentate line, inside the anal canal. The advantage is that this method affects few nerve endings, while traditional procedures are performed below the dentate line, affecting many sensitive nerve endings.

Facts About Hemorrhoids
Hemorrhoids are natural tissue found in the anal canal. Hemorrhoidal disease results when the tissue enlarges and descends downward into the anal canal. The condition can result from several factors, including constipation with prolonged straining, diet, and pregnancy. Symptoms of hemorrhoids include aching after a bowel movement; anal or rectal itching; bright red blood on toilet tissue or in toilet bowl; and the appearance of anal tissue pads or sensitive lumps. When any of these symptoms is present, it is important to see a doctor to make sure the cause of the discomfort is hemorrhoids and not some other problem.

Where to Get More Information

As with any surgical procedure, there are risks and complications that accompany PPH. Patients should consult their doctor to see if the procedure is right for them. For more information, patients should contact their doctor, or visit www.pphinfo.com.