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What are Piles?
Piles, also known as Haemorrhoids, are inflamed blood vessels located inside or around the anus. The anus is lined with anal cushions, which are spongy tissue and blood vessels that help the anus close properly. When these blood vessels become enlarged, it can lead to symptoms of piles. Piles can hamper your day-to-day activities.
Different Types of Piles
Piles are classified into two types based on location—internal and external. Understanding different types of piles helps in identifying symptoms, causes, and effective treatments.
Internal Piles
Internal piles hang from the anal canal. This type of pile occurs when veins inside the rectum become swollen. The rectum is the final section of the digestive system, connecting the colon (large intestine) to the anus. This is classified into four groups:
- First-degree piles: First-degree piles are characterized by potential bleeding, but they do not come out from the anus.
- Second-degree piles: Second-degree piles come out from the anus during bowel movements, but they return inside afterward.
- Third-degree piles: Third-degree piles also come out from the anus, but they require manual pushing to return them inside, indicating that it’s a severe stage.
- Fourth-degree piles: Fourth-degree piles are the most severe, as they permanently hang down from the anus and cannot be pushed back in. They can become extremely swollen and painful if a blood clot forms inside them.
External Piles
External piles, also known as external hemorrhoids, are painful swellings that occur near the opening of the anus, in the lower part of the anal canal. They can be more painful if a blood clot forms inside the swollen tissue.
It is also possible to have both internal and external piles at the same time.
Symptoms of Different Types of Piles
Pile symptoms can vary from person to person. But the most common symptoms of the two types of piles include:
Symptoms of Internal Piles
Internal piles are located inside the rectum and usually don’t cause discomfort. However, straining or irritation during bowel movements can lead to:
- Bleeding during bowel movements
- Bright red blood in the toilet
- Prolapsed or protruding piles can give pain and irritation
Symptoms of External Plies
External piles occur beneath the skin around the anus. It potentially causes the following symptoms:
- Anal itching or irritation
- Pain or discomfort in the affected area
- Visible swelling around the anus
- Rectal bleeding
Causes of Piles
Piles occur when the veins in the anal canal become swollen. This swelling can be caused by various factors, including:
- Straining during bowel movements, often due to constipation
- Weakening of the anal canal with age
- Constant coughing
- Lifting heavy objects frequently
- Increased abdominal pressure during pregnancy
Treatment options for Piles
Several options are there to handle piles. Doctors will first try to cure piles with medications or with minimally invasive procedures. If it is not enough to cure your piles, they may guide you to further procedures.
Medicines for piles
For mild discomfort, your healthcare provider may recommend creams, ointments, suppositories or pads. These products often contain ingredients like Witch hazel, Hydrocortisone and Lidocaine to give you temporary relief from pain and itching.
Minimally invasive procedures
If bleeding remains or piles become painful, your healthcare provider may suggest minimally invasive procedures. Available procedures include:
- Rubber Band Ligation: A healthcare provider places 1-2 tiny rubber bands around the base of an internal pile, cutting off the blood flow. For this reason, the piles fall off within a week. But this may cause discomfort or bleeding in the initial days after the placement of the rubber band.
- Sclerotherapy: In Sclerotherapy, a chemical solution is injected into the piles to shrink it. The injection is relatively painless but may be less effective than rubber band ligation.
- Coagulation: Laser, infrared light, or heat is applied to harden and shrink small internal piles. This procedure has few side effects and typically causes minimal discomfort.
Surgical Options for Piles
Surgery is rarely necessary. It may be recommended if other treatments fail or if you have large piles. Your healthcare provider then may suggest one of the following procedures:
- Hemorrhoidectomy
A hemorrhoidectomy is a surgical procedure that clears piles or hemorrhoids by removing excess tissue. Your surgeon will utilize a specialized technique here. To minimize discomfort, the procedure can be performed under local anesthesia, supplemented with sedation to promote relaxation. Alternatively, spinal or general anesthesia may be employed. Hemorrhoidectomy offers the most comprehensive solution for severe or recurring hemorrhoids. Though it is safe but some complications may arise, including temporary urinary retention, which can increase the risk of urinary tract infections. This issue is more common after spinal anesthesia. Following the procedure, patients typically experience some discomfort, which can be effectively managed with medication. Soaking in a warm bath can also provide relief.
- Hemorrhoid Stapling or Hemorrhoidopexy
Hemorrhoid stapling, also known as stapled hemorrhoidopexy, is a procedure that cuts off blood flow to hemorrhoidal tissue, typically used for internal hemorrhoids. This method generally results in less pain and a faster recovery compared to hemorrhoidectomy, allowing patients to back to their normal activities sooner. However, stapling has been linked to a higher risk of hemorrhoid recurrence (comeback) and rectal prolapse, a condition where part of the rectum comes out through the anus. Other complications include bleeding, difficulty emptying the bladder and rarely, we see a life-threatening blood infection called sepsis.
Laser surgery types for Piles
Laser surgery become very much popular these days. It offers effective treatment options for piles. Which include:
1. Haemorrhoidal Laser Procedure (HeLp)
HeLp is a quick, painless, and minimally invasive procedure that uses laser energy to shrink the haemorrhoidal tissue. The laser fiber targets pile tissue so that the tissue can shrink and disappear.
2. Laser Haemorrhoidectomy
This laser procedure effectively removes large or prolapsed hemorrhoids by cutting them away with a laser. This is a totally safe process.
3. Laser Hemorrhoidoplasty (LHP)
LHP is a minimally invasive procedure (similar to HeLP), that takes the help of the laser energy to shrink the hemorrhoidal tissue. However, LHP employs higher laser energy to achieve more significant tissue reduction.
Piles Doctor in Kolkata
If you are looking for an efficient piles specialist doctor in Kolkata, you should contact DR. Prosenjit Choudhury. He is the best piles doctor in Kolkata. Complicated conditions related to piles should be handled with proper care, treatment and experience. He is an experienced laser expert surgeon, who will ensure your safety and guide you through the treatment procedure.
FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions
- What are piles?
Answer: Piles, also known as Haemorrhoids, are swollen blood vessels located inside or around the anus.
- What are the symptoms of internal piles?
Answer: Bleeding during bowel movements, bright red blood in the toilet, pain and irritation are the signs of internal piles.
What are the symptoms of external piles?
Answer: Anal itching or irritation, pain or discomfort in the affected area, visible swelling around the anus and rectal bleeding are the signs of external piles.
- Can piles be cured with laser treatment?
Answer: Yes, laser treatment is very much popular and a safe option for the treatment of piles, rather than traditional methods.
