Excisional haemorrhoidectomy

Excisional haemorrhoidectomy is the traditional gold standard treatment for significant symptomatic haemorrhoids. 

Haemorrhoidectomy is an operation to remove larger prolapsing or external haemorrhoids. This is usually done under general anaesthesia, usually as a day case or a one night stay. The procedure is performed under a general anaesthetic, after meeting the anaesthetist who inserts an intravenous cannula.

Your suitablity for a haemorrhoidectomy needs to be carefully discussed. A haemorrhoidectomy can be a painful procedure, and there may be less or non-painful options available to you. Dr Morris will perform a thorough examination and discuss which options might be appropriate for you. 

A haemorrhoidectomy involves an excision (cutting out), of the entire problematic component, including the external component or tags if required. It can be done as a one, two or three site excision, but it does require healthy skin and tissue to be left as a bridge between excision sites. It is likely the most successful operation in terms of symptom resolution, and recurrence rates, but it is the most invasive and painful of the options. 

Local anaesthetic is used to try to numb the area for up to 24 hours after your surgery. The procedure may take up to 30-45 minutes, depending on the size of the haemorrhoids. You will be provided with extensive information to try to make the process as comfortable as is possible. 

Many patients do not attend for fear of this operation – but it is worthwhile remembering that other options exist, and despite this, after healing occurs, the results of this operation are usually very satisfactory, and may be a great improvement in quality of life affected by haemorrhoids.