Evaluation of Doppler-guided hemorrhoidal artery ligation in the management of symptomatic hemorrhoids

Background: We evaluated the results of the Doppler-guided hemorrhoidal artery ligation procedure in the management of symptomatic hemorrhoids to determine its effectiveness, safety, short and long term outcome.
Patients and methods: Between January 2007 and December 2008, fifty consecutive patients with symptomatic hemorrhoids were treated by Doppler-guided hemorrhoidal artery ligation method. All patients were treated in insurance hospital in Riyad, KSA and Palestinian hospital, Cairo, Egypt. Postoperative pain was measured with visual analog scale (1-10). Patients were followed up at intervals of one week, 1, 3, 6 and 12 months postoperatively. At every postoperative follow  up  visit,  wound  healing  was  observed  and  any  complication  was  reported.
Results: Thirty five patients had their operations performed under general anesthesia. The operative time ranged between 19-45 minutes (mean 32± 3.6 minutes). The mean postoperative pain score was 6.1 ± 1.3 in the first postoperative day. The complications rate was low and the most common long term complication was persistent prolapse in three patients (6%).
Conclusion: Doppler-guided hemorrhoidal artery ligation procedure in the management of symptomatic hemorrhoids is safe, effective and is associated with minimal long term complications. The procedure can be done on an out-patient basis