Hemorrhoid surgery

Alternative Names: Hemorrhoidectomy

Hemorrhoid surgery is the removal of swollen veins around the anus.

See also: Hemorrhoids

Description of Procedure

Hemorrhoid surgery is often done in an outpatient clinic or your doctor's office, with little or no anesthesia.

Hemorrhoids can be surgically removed using a special stapler or sutures (stiches). After the hemorrhoid is removed, you may have stitches that dissolve on their own and gauze packing to reduce bleeding.

Other treatments may include:

• A shot into the hemorrhoid to reduce swelling (sclerotherapy)
• A rubber band around the hemorrhoid to cut off its blood supply
• Shrinking the hemorrhoid with heat, or freeze it with liquid nitrogen
• Minor surgery to treat the hemorrhoid (hemorrhoidectomy)

Smaller hemorrhoids may not need surgery.

Risks of Hemorrhoid surgery

Risks for any surgery are:

• Bleeding
• Infection

Risks for any anesthesia are:

• Reactions to medications
• Breathing problems, pneumonia
• Heart problems

Risks for hemorrhoid surgery are:

• Leaking a small amount of stool (long-term problems are rare)
• Problems passing urine because of the pain

Hemorrhoid surgery - series

Review Date: 1/24/2011
Reviewed By: Shabir Bhimji, MD, PhD, Specializing in General Surgery, Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Midland, TX. Review Provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

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