27 June 2013
ALTERNATIVE treatments which could enable patients to recover quicker and less painfully from bulging prolapsed piles are to be tested in a groundbreaking UK-wide study led by Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Sheffield.
Around a quarter of the UK’s population will develop symptoms from piles, or haemorrhoids, at some point in their life, but most will recover naturally after a few days. However, the most severe forms may need treatment – particularly if they swell, bleed or protrude. Over 25,000 people undergo surgery for piles in the UK every year.
At the moment there are a number of different surgical procedures used to treat piles, and with varying recovery times.
The study is the first to compare how different surgical treatments for piles work on different patients.
Now consultant surgeon Mr Steven Brown, from Sheffield’s Northern General Hospital, is to join 13 other consultants across England to examine two alternative treatments, which could be less painful and aid a quicker recovery.
These are: a simple suction device enabling a tiny rubber band to be placed on the pile known as rubber band ligation and a new minimally invasive and possibly more effective technique called ‘haemorrhoidal artery ligation (HAL)’. The former works by cutting off the circulation of the pile, causing it to drop off within seven to ten days. The latter works by locating arteries in the haemorrhoid area using an ultrasound doppler probe. This detects blood flow in the pile. Once the pile vessels are found, a stitch is placed around the pile, reducing the blood supply and enabling the pile to shrink.
Mr Steve Brown, consultant surgeon at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Haemorrhoids and piles cause problems in up to a quarter of the population. Although in most cases they will go away, the severest forms can cause bleeding, prolapse, itching, leakage and discomfort. During this study we are looking at two of the surgical procedures used to treat piles and which one of these treatments is more beneficial for patients. This will enable surgeons and clinicians to make informed evidence-based decisions that will further enable them to give patients the best care possible.
The £883,297 multi-centre study is being run from Sheffield’s Northern General Hospital through the University of Sheffield’s School of Health and Related Research (ScHARR). It is being funded by the National Institute for Health Research’s Health Technology Assessment Programme, an independent body looking at which healthcare treatments will have the broadest impact on patients.
A total of 350 patients will be involved in the research, which will take place over a 12-month period, with researchers looking at the impact of the treatment after 1 day, 7 days, 21 days, 6 weeks and 12 month intervals.
ENDS
