Rubber Band Ligation for Hemorrhoids

Procedure:

Rubber band ligation is a procedure in which the hemorrhoid is tied off at its base with rubber bands, cutting off the blood flow to the hemorrhoid.
This treatment is only for internal hemorrhoids.
To do this procedure, a doctor inserts a viewing instrument (anoscope) into the anus.
The hemorrhoid is grasped with an instrument, and a device places a rubber band around the base of the hemorrhoid. The hemorrhoid then shrinks and dies and, in about a week, falls off.
A scar will form in place of the hemorrhoid, holding nearby veins so they don’t bulge into the anal canal.
Patient will be asked whether the rubber bands feel too tight.
If the bands are extremely painful, a medicine may be injected into the banded hemorrhoids to numb them.
After the procedure, you may feel pain and have a sensation of fullness in the lower abdomen. Or you may feel as if you need to have a bowel movement.

Treatment is limited to 1 to 2 hemorrhoids at a time without anesthesia.
Several hemorrhoids may be treated at one time if the person has general anesthesia.
Additional areas may be treated at 4- to 6-week intervals.
Pain is likely for 24 to 48 hours after rubber band ligation.
You may use acetaminophen (for example, Tylenol) and sit in a shallow tub of warm water for 15 minutes at a time to relieve discomfort.
To reduce the risk of bleeding, avoid taking aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for 4 to 5 days both before and after rubber band ligation.
Bleeding may occur 7 to 10 days after surgery, when the hemorrhoid falls off. Bleeding is usually slight and stops by itself.