Laser hemorrhoidoplasty is one of the latest methods used to treat internal hemorrhoids. In this article, learn about the most important features of this technology and how to implement it in Turkey.
Overview of hemorrhoids
Hemorrhoids are venous dilatations near the anus.
There are types of hemorrhoids; There are external hemorrhoids that can be seen around the anal opening, and there are internal hemorrhoids located within the rectum or anal canal.
Internal hemorrhoids are classified into four degrees according to their prolapse and protrusion from the anal opening. These hemorrhoids can worsen and gradually increase in size if left untreated or when the doctor’s instructions are not adhered to.
There are many methods used to get rid of the problem of hemorrhoids. The traditional method, “hemorrhoidectomy surgery,” is accompanied by a significant degree of pain after the operation, which has prompted thinking about other minimally invasive methods to treat hemorrhoids.
Laser hemorrhoidoplasty (LHP) is a new technique that has recently appeared and was performed in Turkey. It is still in constant development and is considered a minimally invasive alternative to the traditional operation.
The use of a laser beam to treat hemorrhoids in Turkey is an advanced treatment that aspires to achieve a curative and effective treatment with a simple and painless procedure. Doctors can now use this technique in almost all people with hemorrhoids (however, this depends on the surgeon’s decision).
Principle of Laser Hemorrhoid Surgery
The idea of laser hemorrhoid surgery is limited to stopping blood flow into the hemorrhoidal plexus using laser coagulation of the branches of the rectal artery.
During the procedure, a small probe is inserted into the hemorrhoid to shine a focused laser beam that cauterizes the hemorrhoid with the laser and blocks the blood vessels inside the hemorrhoid, causing the hemorrhoid to shrink without significant pain.
Advantages of Laser hemorrhoidoplasty
Laser hemorrhoid surgery in Turkey offers many advantages and benefits that make it better than performing surgery to remove them:
- Being a very precise surgery, it does not affect the surrounding tissues or the anal sphincter, thus protecting the patient from fecal incontinence or sphincter stenosis after the operation.
- Applying heat reduces the risk of severe bleeding during and after the procedure.
- It is performed through local or lumbar anesthesia and does not require general anesthesia (except in some cases).
- Fast recovery after the operation: It does not involve surgical incisions or stitches, so the patient can leave the hospital within a few hours of the operation and return to daily life after only 2-3 days.
- The pain after the operation is considered minor and can be relieved with oral painkillers such as paracetamol for 1-3 days.
- The incidence of sepsis after the operation is lower than that of traditional operations.
- After the procedure, the patient will feel an immediate improvement in the symptoms of hemorrhoids (itching, irritation, swelling…).
- In addition, laser hemorrhoid surgery has a high success rate and low recurrence rates compared to traditional treatment.
Studies have reported that treating hemorrhoids using laser beams is more effective than surgically removing hemorrhoids in terms of pain, recovery period after the operation, and several other indicators.
Although laser hemorrhoid surgery is somewhat expensive, it is less expensive than surgery that requires you to stay in the hospital and stop working for a period of time. Studies have found that laser hemorrhoid surgery is superior to the rubber band ligation technique in treating second and third-degree internal hemorrhoids.
The method of hemorrhoid laser surgery in Turkey
The patient must be well prepared before the laser procedure to remove hemorrhoids. He must stop taking blood-thinning medications as directed by the specialist doctor, and his intestines will be emptied of waste by an enema or by taking a laxative.
After preparing the patient, he will be given local or lumbar anesthesia, then he will be placed in the lithotomy position, and the hemorrhoid that will be treated will be determined. The laser probe will be placed above the dentate line and pushed toward the top of the hemorrhoid.
About 3 strokes of 12 W laser beams with a wavelength of 1450 nm are fired at the apex of the hemorrhoid. The laser beams are narrow so as not to harm nearby body tissues. The number of strokes depends on the size of the hemorrhoid.
The laser energy used is precisely determined to shrink the hemorrhoid’s mass and stop blood flow to the hemorrhoidal plexus, thus stopping its growth.
The process is repeated on each hemorrhoid separately, finishing with gentle cold compression on the operation area.
The laser hemorrhoid surgery lasts approximately 20 to 30 minutes.
Complications of laser hemorrhoid surgery
Disadvantages of laser hemorrhoidectomy may include:
- Bleeding during or after the operation
- Blood clots form
- Infection in the anal area
- Temporary inability to urinate
- Injury to the rectal mucosa
- Edema in the operation area
- Injury or burning at the surgical site
Laser hemorrhoidoplasty does not have serious side effects, and its side effects are generally rare.
After laser hemorrhoid surgery
After getting rid of the hemorrhoids with laser treatment, you will be transferred to a comfortable room until you can walk again. You will remain under observation until the anesthesia (local or lumbar) wears off, and your vital signs will be monitored until breathing and other vital signs return to normal.
When the effect of the anesthesia wears off, you may feel some discomfort or pain (which will be very slight), and the site of the surgical procedure may swell slightly after the operation. Your doctor will give you some medications that will help you feel comfortable and relieve the pain.
You will be discharged from the hospital (or clinic) on the same day, and you will not need to take painkillers often, but if you feel that the pain is severe and unbearable, the doctor may prescribe some oral painkillers for you.
After performing laser hemorrhoidoplasty in Turkey, you will be able to resume your daily life within two or three days if you do not have other health problems that interfere with the healing process and the results of the operation.
After removing hemorrhoids, bowel movements may take some time to return to normal, and you may feel a slight burning in the anal area during defecation. Talk to your doctor if you feel you need to take laxatives.
Laser Hemorrhoidoplasty cost in Turkey
The price of laser hemorrhoid treatment in Turkey starts from 1000 US dollars. The cost of laser hemorrhoid surgery may exceed this price depending on the type and degree of hemorrhoid, but it remains much cheaper than the cost of laser hemorrhoid surgery in Europe.
In conclusion, the success of internal hemorrhoid laser surgery depends on the doctor’s experience and the extent of your adherence to the doctor’s instructions regarding daily defecation habits and the type of food you eat, which will certainly help you defecate easily.
