Dpainful, embarrassing, subtle, unpredictable: hemorrhoids are a frequent disorder in both men and women. It is estimated that approximately half of people over 50 years of age have had this disorder, in a more or less acute manner, at least once in their lives.
When nutrition, physical activity and medications and ointments are not enough, the doctor may suggest surgery to improve the situation. Many put it off because they know that the post-operative period is often painful and not always conclusive. But now there is good news: The HeLP laser treatmenta minimally invasive technique that does not generate wounds and is practically painless. We talked about it with one of the leading experts, the Dr. Paolo GiamundoSpecialist in General Surgery and European Board Specialist in Colorectal Surgery at Kiba, Medical Institute of Milan.
What are hemorrhoids?
Hemorrhoids are part of the anatomy of the anal canal. It is a complex of small veins which, among other functions, contribute to the maintenance of continence and the normal physiology of the anal canal. Under normal conditions their presence is not felt, but when they alter, theirs swelling it can be associated with fairly common and annoying symptoms such as prolapse, pain, burning, itching or bleeding.
What are the causes contributing to the problem?
Sedentary lifestyle, constipation, excessive effort, stress and genetic predisposition are among the causes of haemorrhoidal pathology. A’cured nutrition and one active lifestyle they can prevent the onset of inflammation, but when this is not sufficient, it is necessary to resort to targeted therapies and, when even medical therapy with local drugs and ointments fails, surgical intervention is necessary
What is the minimally invasive Laser HeLP technique
The innovative ‘HeLP’ laser treatment consists of a Laser-guided Doppler-guided hemorrhoidal de-arterialization. It’s one minimally invasive technique That does not generate wounds and that’s pretty much it painless. The rationale for this technique is based on the assumption, reported by numerous scientific studies, that the haemorrhoidal pathology derives from a hyper arteriovenous vascular influx. In practice, the arterial hemorrhoidal system would release an excessive quantity of blood into the venous hemorrhoidal system (hemorrhoids), creating the basis for a progressive dilation of the hemorrhoidal plexus and therefore all the resulting symptoms.
Because this new technique is revolutionary
Based on this vascular theory, the HeLP laser intervention represents a real revolution in the treatment of hemorrhoidal disease. A 980nm diode laser beam of the latest generation is used for close the terminal branches of the superior hemorrhoidal artery thus reducing the flow of arteriovenous blood and progressively treating related hemorrhoidal symptoms.
Since the hemorrhoidal arteries are located in the upper part of the anal canal, where the nerve endings that generate pain are poorly represented, the technique is considered almost completely painless and can be performed without anesthesia on an outpatient basis.
Hemorrhoids and surgical techniques: the differences
The HeLP Laser intervention represents the true minimally invasive evolution of the treatment of pathological hemorrhoids. Contrary to traditional hemorrhoidectomy surgery, hemorrhoids are not removed and this leads to an elimination of pain and potential complications, even serious ones, linked to traditional surgery.
He has one lasts 15 minutes and is associated with a very rapid postoperative recovery.
In the speech, the haemorrhoidal arterioles they come identified with a Doppler and they come “coagulated” by the action of a laser beam. The action of the laser is extremely precise, not exceeding the depth in the rectal wall of 4 mm. This guarantees a total safety of the method.
No anesthesia is needed
The great advantage of working with the laser far inside the anal canal is that it allows the operation to be performed without anesthesia none (not even local), at most and in selected cases, with very light sedation which has the sole purpose of promoting the patient’s relaxation. Thanks to HeLP, the treatment of hemorrhoids becomes absolutely bloodless, painless (both during and afterwards), substantially free of serious and outpatient complications. The patient leaves the medical center shortly after the operation, independently, and will be able to resume his daily and work activities from the following day.
Why not wait to see the specialist
As with all surgical techniques, this operation is indicated in the case of failure of medical therapy and in the case of very symptomatic hemorrhoids, but with moderate prolapse. In cases of prolapsed hemorrhoids that can no longer be reduced manually, it will be necessary to resort to more invasive treatments. Hence the importance of immediately contacting the Proctologist specialist, without waiting for the degree of the disease to progress towards situations that can no longer be treated with minimal invasiveness.
What are the indications? Is it something everyone can do?
HeLP, being a “safe” operation, with a very low incidence of postoperative complications, can be also prescribed in very young people or moles very elderly patients with recurrent symptoms no longer controllable with drug therapy.
How to do prevention in this area?
In general, hemorrhoid disease can be prevented. Maintaining a controlled diet with fiber, good hydration, regular physical activity. But also by regulating evacuations to avoid constipation or, on the contrary, the excessive number of daily evacuations. But, in the event of the onset of symptoms, a specialist proctological visit is of fundamental importance because it allows for a correct early diagnosis and directs the patient towards the most appropriate surgical therapies, possibly minimally invasive, such as the HeLP laser technique.
An excellence in Lombard healthcare
Following the development of the technique, Dr. Giamundo organized numerous national and international courses to spread the laser technique among the various colorectal surgeons in the world and has presented, over the years, his studies and his personal experience in numerous courses of specialist interest. Dr. Giamundo still holds the most relevant case history in terms of number of operations, which makes him the world’s leading expert in this field. In fact, he is the first study on the HeLP technique published in a prestigious American journal Surgical Endoscopy and personally presented at the 2011 Annual American Congress of Gastroenterological Surgery.
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