Ready to Resolve Internal Hemorrhoids for Good? 5 Advantages of Nonsurgical Embolization

There’s little like the discomfort and pain of hemorrhoids. From anal bleeding, itchiness, and pain to difficulty sitting or passing bowel movements, the swollen veins can make your daily life challenging.

Thankfully, a range of treatments can diminish your hemorrhoid woes. If little has helped and you’d like to avoid surgery, consider hemorrhoidal artery embolization (HAE), also known as hemorrhoidal embolization.

With his expert team at Midtown Manhattan practice, double board-certified vascular and interventional radiologist Dr. Yosef Golowa provides HAE to shrink and destroy bothersome hemorrhoids without the downsides of surgery.

Take a few moments to learn more about hemorrhoids, including how HAE can resolve your symptoms for good.

What causes hemorrhoids

Most anything that adds pressure to the veins in your anus or rectum can fuel hemorrhoids. Anyone can develop them, but factors that raise your risk include pelvic pressure from pregnancy and weight gain, straining to lift heavy objects, and pushing hard during bowel movements. 

Because constipation makes passing stool challenging, the more you experience constipation, the more likely hemorrhoids become. For that reason, chronic dehydration and a low-fiber diet contribute to hemorrhoid symptoms, too.

When to consider hemorrhoid treatment

While hemorrhoid bleeding and pain may resolve on their own after a week or so, longer-lasting and severe hemorrhoid issues typically require medical care. Chronic hemorrhoids persist or flare up repeatedly for months. 

If time and home measures, like over-the-counter ointment and sitz baths, fail to resolve your symptoms, Dr. Golowa may recommend hemorrhoidal artery embolization.

What happens during HAE

During hemorrhoidal artery embolization, Dr. Golowa inserts a small catheter into a blood vessel in your groin. Through the catheter, he inserts tiny gel particles, down as microspheres, platinum coils, or both to seal the artery. This reduces blood flow to your hemorrhoid, leading to eased symptoms.

Once your sedation wears off, you can return home. The procedure takes about 45 minutes.

Advantages of hemorrhoidal embolization

Like all effective hemorrhoid treatments, the main benefit of HAE is diminished hemorrhoid symptoms. HAE varies from hemorrhoidectomy, a surgery that removes large and prolapsed hemorrhoids, in numerous ways.

The top advantages of this minimally invasive option include:

1. Ability to go home afterward (no hospital stay)
2. Very low risk of serious side effects
3. Less postprocedure pain compared to surgery
4. Faster recovery compared to surgery
5. High success rate of 93-100%

Hemorrhoidectomy recovery takes 2-4 weeks. After HAE, most people can return to their usual daily activities within a few days.

Find out if you're a good candidate for hemorrhoidal artery embolization or learn more by calling our office. You can also book an appointment with Dr. Golowa through our website.