Nonsurgical Treatment of Hemorrhoids with Embolization

By age 50, roughly half of adults develop hemorrhoids. Thankfully, the swollen blood vessels or veins around your anus can be treated. And while traditional surgery is an option for some, embolization provides a painless and less invasive option when lifestyle steps fail to help.

At his Midtown Manhattan practice, double board-certified radiologist Dr. Yosef Golowa is pleased to provide hemorrhoidal embolization for good candidates.

Read on to learn more about hemorrhoids, including how this effective treatment can help. 

What causes hemorrhoids

Most anything that causes added pressure on the veins around your anus can lead to hemorrhoids – which can occur under the surrounding skin or inside the anus opening. 

Your risk for hemorrhoids up during pregnancy and childbirth and if you have a family history of the condition. You can also develop symptoms if you frequently strain during bowel movements or if you have an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, that fuels chronic constipation or diarrhea.

Common hemorrhoid symptoms

Hemorrhoid symptoms vary, but some of the most common signs include:

• Bright red blood appears in bowel movements or when wiping
• Discomfort and pain around your anus
• A hard lump or swelling around your anus
• Itching in or around your anus

Your symptoms will likely worsen if you attempt to scratch the itchiness or wipe too harshly or with harsh toilet paper. And they may worsen over time, without treatment.

What to do about your hemorrhoids

Treatments for hemorrhoids aim to reduce swelling in the affected veins so that your symptoms subside. Once you’ve been diagnosed with hemorrhoids, your recommended care plan may include topical cream, pills you insert into your rectum, or a procedure, such as rubber band ligation, sclerotherapy, a hemorrhoidectomy, or hemorrhoid embolization. 

Lifestyle measures, such as sitting in warm water a few times per day and applying an ice pack can also help ease hemorrhoid pain. Changing your diet to include more fiber and consuming more hydrating fluids, like water, may also help by reducing constipation.

What to expect from hemorrhoid embolization

Dr. Golowa specializes in the nonsurgical hemorrhoid treatment, embolization. It works by reducing blood flow to internal hemorrhoids – the type that form within the anus – causing them to stop bleeding and shrink.

During your procedure, Dr. Golowa inserts a thin catheter into a blood vessel in your groin through a tiny puncture. He then uses a special X-ray known as fluoroscopy to guide the catheter to the affected rectal arteries and places tiny gel particles on the ends to seal them.

This painless process takes about 45 minutes. As soon as the sedative you’ve been given wears off, you can return home and get back to your normal activities within a day. From there, you can expect improved hemorrhoid symptoms and life quality moving forward.

To learn more about nonsurgical hemorrhoid treatment or to get the care you need, call our office or book an appointment through our website today.