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Hemorrhoids:

Hemorrhoids are vascular “cushions” in the anal area and perform two basic functions:

• continence, so that the intestine closes properly and
• protection, that is, avoiding injuries to the intestine, which would lead to a rupture, abscess or fistula.

So when hemorrhoids are affected, (they swell, grow and inflate) the tissues that hold them in place relax and cannot perform their functions. This specific condition is known as “hemorrhoids”, which is the beginning of poor quality of life and daily suffering. ”

What are the causes of its occurrence?

It is a very common condition that occurs in both sexes, affecting at least 50% of the world’s population, mainly in the Western world up to the age of 50. The main causes are constipation and heredity. At the same time, abandoning the Mediterranean diet, switching to diets that emphasize meat, sugar and “ready meals”, combined with a sedentary lifestyle and stress, lead to constipation and hemorrhoids. An additional cause is the increase in intra-abdominal pressure, namely pregnancy, obesity, intense coughing, heavy lifting, as well as advanced age.

What are the symptoms?

The symptoms are usually obvious and difficult for someone to ignore. Among other things, minor bleeding during defecation, a feeling of incomplete defecation, itching and irritation in the anal area, with simultaneous swelling, loss of fluids in the underwear, but mainly, however, intense pain. It is very important to mention that as soon as we notice any of the above symptoms, we should immediately visit a specialized surgeon. He, through a clinical examination, will determine the size of the lesion and will advise us, respectively, on the treatment but also on any additional tests, if these are deemed necessary.

How is it treated and what is the most appropriate treatment?

Depending on the degree of Hemorrhoidopathy, there are two treatment methods, specifically:

• Conservative treatment, which, however, offers temporary relief from painful episodes, postponing the “definitive treatment”. This method includes aerobic exercise, the application of creams, ointments and patches containing ingredients such as cortisone and lidocaine, as well as a specific diet rich in water and fiber.
• Surgical treatment, which includes classical and endoscopic surgical methods, specifically classical hemorrhoidectomy, hemorrhoidectomy using “ultrasound scissors”, hemorrhoidectomy using laser, ultrasound-guided vascular ligation and finally, hemorrhoidopexy using a circular anastomosis, which is known as the “Longo Technique”.

All of the above methods have a place in the treatment and management of hemorrhoids. What should be emphasized and highlighted is the individualized treatment by the experienced surgeon, a principle based on understanding the specificities of each patient, individually. This principle is also the key to successful treatment, since the surgeon has in his hands all the “weapons” of science and the ability to choose the most appropriate method, or some corresponding combination, with the sole criterion of the physiology, specificity and clinical condition of the patient.

Based on all of the above, the choice of the treating physician should be based on parameters such as the broader hospital environment, the organized structures and, above all, the personalized treatment, as they exist and are applied in the clinics of the Athens Medical Group. Daily information on new technologies and materials, combined with continuous investments in biomedical equipment, allows us to have the latest word in modern treatment for surgical diseases of the anus. At the same time, and through the collaboration of the Interdisciplinary Team, we are able to offer the most personalized solution for each case, no matter how complex it may be.