What are Hemorrhoids

This is an old treatment of hemorrhoids and rarely used these days due to it not being as effective as banding, as people require repeated injections. People do not want to go through having a doctor rummaging around in their bottoms once let alone repeatedly.

It is a quick treatment involving the injection of Oily Phenol Injection BP 5%w/v into the base of the hemorrhoid causing the soft tissues to harden and scar, the hemorrhoid will then wither and fall off.

The Sclerotherapy Treatment Procedure

1. The doctor who is performing the procedure will explain what they are going to do, and will ask for your permission to perform the procedure.
2. This procedure is performed on grade1-2  hemorrhoids
3. If you are happy that you understand both what procedure you are going to have done and have been told of the risks involved with the procedure then you can sign the relevant document.
4. You will be asked to take your clothes off and put on a gown and placed in the correct position for the procedure/ or just to remove your lower garments
5. You will be positioned either on a couch with stirrups for your feet to go in or on you side on a couch with your knees drawn up to your chest it will depend on the location of the hemorrhoid. ( it will seem all a bit undignified but you will have either a sheet or blanket covering you until the procedure begins
6. An instrument called a proctoscope or anoscope will be gently placed in your anus so the doctor will be able to have a good view the hemorrhoid.
7. The doctor will then inject the base of the hemorrhoid with the oily phenol.

Post procedure pain

The procedure itself is usually not too uncomfortable and you may experience pain for the next 24 – 48 hours. Regular paracetamol should keep you comfortable.

Special precautions

• Make sure you inform your doctor if you have any nut allergies as you will not be able to have this procedure
• Ensure you inform you doctor prior to the procedure if you think you may be pregnant or are breast feeding
• Ensure you have adequate pain relief available to you.
• Make sure you have someone available to help you should you need it for at least the next twelve hours
• Make sure you are able to urinate easily after the procedure(go for a wee)
• Do not use aspirin for pain relief post procedure as it may encourage bleeding
• Drink plenty of fluids
• Try and do some gentle exercise
• Eat plenty of fibre rich foods so you do not become constipated
• Do not do any heavy lifting for at least two weeks

Healing / recovery time

In two weeks the scar will have blocked off the blood supply to the hemorrhoid and it will have withered and been passed with your stools

Complications and risks

• Your Doctor can inject 2-3mls of oily phenol at one time and it can be injected at the base of different hemorrhoids around the anal canal but the total used must not exceed 10mls or else you may suffer from a toxic reaction.
• Dizziness
• You may have an allergic reaction to the almond carrier oil
• Discomfort – the phenol is supposed to cause numbing of the nerves but it may not be effective causing pain.
• The area treated may form an ulcer or abscess possibly leading to Necrotising fasciitus
• Urinary incontinence
• The phenol may be injected incorrectly and enter the blood stream causing Hepatitis
• Prostatitis (a painful inflammation of the prostate in men) or Impotency due to the phenol
• Bleeding after the procedure

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