Hemorrhoid

Hemorrhoids
Synonyms Haemorrhoids, piles,[1] hemorrhoidal disease[2]
Diagram demonstrating the anatomy of both internal and external hemorrhoids
Pronunciation
  • UK: /ˈhɛmərɔɪdz/
Specialty General surgery
Symptoms Internal: Painless, bright red rectal bleeding[3]
External: Pain and swelling around the anus[4]
Usual onset 45–65 years of age[5]
Duration Few days[3]
Causes Unknown[4]
Risk factors Constipation, diarrhea, sitting on the toilet for a long time, pregnancy[3]
Diagnostic method Examination, rule out serious causes[2][3]
Treatment Increased fiber, drinking fluids, NSAIDs, rest, surgery[6][1]
Frequency 50–66% at some point in time[1][3]

Hemorrhoids, also called piles, are vascular structures in the anal canal.[7][8] In their normal state, they are cushions that help with stool control.[2] They become a disease when swollen or inflamed; the unqualified term "hemorrhoid" is often used to refer to the disease.[8] The signs and symptoms of hemorrhoids depend on the type present.[4] Internal hemorrhoids are usually present with painless, bright red rectal bleeding when defecating.[3][4] External hemorrhoids often result in pain and swelling in the area of the anus. If bleeding occurs it is usually darker.[4] Symptoms frequently get better after a few days.[3] A skin tag may remain after the healing of an external hemorrhoid.[4]

While the exact cause of hemorrhoids remains unknown, a number of factors which increase pressure in the abdomen are believed to be involved.[4] This may include constipation, diarrhea, and sitting on the toilet for a long time. Hemorrhoids are also more common during pregnancy. Diagnosis is made by looking at the area.[3] Many people incorrectly refer to any symptom occurring around the anal area as "hemorrhoids" and serious causes of the symptoms should be ruled out.[2] Colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy is reasonable to confirm the diagnosis and rule out more serious causes.[9]

Often, no specific treatment is needed.[9] Initial measures consist of increasing fiber intake, drinking fluids to maintain hydration, NSAIDs to help with pain, and rest.[1] Medicated creams may be applied to the area, but their effectiveness is poorly supported by evidence.[9] A number of minor procedures may be performed if symptoms are severe or do not improve with conservative management. Surgery is reserved for those who fail to improve following these measures.[6]

Approximately 50% to 66% of people have problems with hemorrhoids at some point in their lives.[1][3] Males and females are both affected with about equal frequency.[1] Hemorrhoids affect people most often between 45 and 65 years of age.[5] It is more common among the wealthy.[4] Outcomes are usually good.[3][9] The first known mention of the disease is from a 1700 BC Egyptian papyrus.[10]

Signs and symptoms

External hemorrhoid as seen around the human anus

In about 40% of people with pathological hemorrhoids there are no significant symptoms.[4] Internal and external hemorrhoids may present differently; however, many people may have a combination of the two.[8] Bleeding enough to cause anemia is rare,[5] and life-threatening bleeding is even more uncommon.[11] Many people feel embarrassed when facing the problem[5] and often seek medical care only when the case is advanced.[8]

External

If not thrombosed, external hemorrhoids may cause few problems.[12] However, when thrombosed, hemorrhoids may be very painful.[8][1] Nevertheless, this pain typically resolves in two to three days.[5] The swelling may, however, take a few weeks to disappear.[5] A skin tag may remain after healing.[8] If hemorrhoids are large and cause issues with hygiene, they may produce irritation of the surrounding skin, and thus itchiness around the anus.[12]

Internal

Internal hemorrhoids usually present with painless, bright red rectal bleeding during or following a bowel movement.[8] The blood typically covers the stool (a condition known as hematochezia), is on the toilet paper, or drips into the toilet bowl.[8] The stool itself is usually normally coloured.[8] Other symptoms may include mucous discharge, a perianal mass if they prolapse through the anus, itchiness, and fecal incontinence.[11][13] Internal hemorrhoids are usually only painful if they become thrombosed or necrotic.[8]

Causes

The exact cause of symptomatic hemorrhoids is unknown.[14] A number of factors are believed to play a role, including irregular bowel habits (constipation or diarrhea), lack of exercise, nutritional factors (low-fiber diets), increased intra-abdominal pressure (prolonged straining, ascites, an intra-abdominal mass, or pregnancy), genetics, an absence of valves within the hemorrhoidal veins, and aging.[1][5] Other factors believed to increase risk include obesity, prolonged sitting,[8] a chronic cough, and pelvic floor dysfunction.[2] Squatting while defecating may also increase the risk of severe hemorrhoids.[15] Evidence for these associations, however, is poor.[2]

During pregnancy, pressure from the fetus on the abdomen and hormonal changes cause the hemorrhoidal vessels to enlarge. The birth of the baby also leads to increased intra-abdominal pressures.[16] Pregnant women rarely need surgical treatment, as symptoms usually resolve after delivery.[1]

Pathophysiology

Hemorrhoid cushions are a part of normal human anatomy and become a pathological disease only when they experience abnormal changes.[8] There are three main cushions present in the normal anal canal.[1] These are located classically at left lateral, right anterior, and right posterior positions.[5] They are composed of neither arteries nor veins, but blood vessels called sinusoids, connective tissue, and smooth muscle.[2]:175 Sinusoids do not have muscle tissue in their walls, as veins do.[8] This set of blood vessels is known as the hemorrhoidal plexus.[2]

Hemorrhoid cushions are important for continence. They contribute to 15–20% of anal closure pressure at rest and protect the internal and external anal sphincter muscles during the passage of stool.[8] When a person bears down, the intra-abdominal pressure grows, and hemorrhoid cushions increase in size, helping maintain anal closure.[5] Hemorrhoid symptoms are believed to result when these vascular structures slide downwards or when venous pressure is excessively increased.[11] Increased internal and external anal sphincter pressure may also be involved in hemorrhoid symptoms.[5] Two types of hemorrhoids occur: internals from the superior hemorrhoidal plexus and externals from the inferior hemorrhoidal plexus.[5] The dentate line divides the two regions.[5]

Diagnosis

Internal hemorrhoid grades
Grade Diagram Picture
1
2
3
4

Hemorrhoids are typically diagnosed by physical examination.[6] A visual examination of the anus and surrounding area may diagnose external or prolapsed hemorrhoids.[8] A rectal exam may be performed to detect possible rectal tumors, polyps, an enlarged prostate, or abscesses.[8] This examination may not be possible without appropriate sedation because of pain, although most internal hemorrhoids are not associated with pain.[1] Visual confirmation of internal hemorrhoids may require anoscopy, insertion of a hollow tube device with a light attached at one end.[5] The two types of hemorrhoids are external and internal. These are differentiated by their position with respect to the dentate line.[1] Some persons may concurrently have symptomatic versions of both.[5] If pain is present, the condition is more likely to be an anal fissure or an external hemorrhoid rather than an internal hemorrhoid.[5]

Internal

Internal hemorrhoids originate above the dentate line.[12] They are covered by columnar epithelium, which lacks pain receptors.[2] They were classified in 1985 into four grades based on the degree of prolapse:[2][1]

External

A thrombosed external hemorrhoid

External hemorrhoids occur below the dentate or pectinate line.[12] They are covered proximally by anoderm and distally by skin, both of which are sensitive to pain and temperature.[2]

Differential

Many anorectal problems, including fissures, fistulae, abscesses, colorectal cancer, rectal varices, and itching have similar symptoms and may be incorrectly referred to as hemorrhoids.[1] Rectal bleeding may also occur owing to colorectal cancer, colitis including inflammatory bowel disease, diverticular disease, and angiodysplasia.[6] If anemia is present, other potential causes should be considered.[5]

Other conditions that produce an anal mass include skin tags, anal warts, rectal prolapse, polyps, and enlarged anal papillae.[5] Anorectal varices due to increased portal hypertension (blood pressure in the portal venous system) may present similar to hemorrhoids but are a different condition.[5] Portal hypertension does not increase the risk of hemorrhoids.[4]

Prevention

A number of preventative measures are recommended, including avoiding straining while attempting to defecate, avoiding constipation and diarrhea either by eating a high-fiber diet and drinking plenty of fluid or by taking fiber supplements, and getting sufficient exercise.[5][17] Spending less time attempting to defecate, avoiding reading while on the toilet,[1] and losing weight for overweight persons and avoiding heavy lifting are also recommended.[18]

Management

Conservative

Conservative treatment typically consists of foods rich in dietary fiber, intake of oral fluids to maintain hydration, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, sitz baths, and rest.[1] Increased fiber intake has been shown to improve outcomes[19] and may be achieved by dietary alterations or the consumption of fiber supplements.[1][19] Evidence for benefits from sitz baths during any point in treatment, however, is lacking.[20] If they are used, they should be limited to 15 minutes at a time.[2]:182

While many topical agents and suppositories are available for the treatment of hemorrhoids, little evidence supports their use.[1] Steroid-containing agents should not be used for more than 14 days, as they may cause thinning of the skin.[1] Most agents include a combination of active ingredients.[2] These may include a barrier cream such as petroleum jelly or zinc oxide, an analgesic agent such as lidocaine, and a vasoconstrictor such as epinephrine.[2] Some contain Balsam of Peru to which certain people may be allergic.[21][22]

Flavonoids are of questionable benefit, with potential side effects.[2][23] Symptoms usually resolve following pregnancy; thus active treatment is often delayed until after delivery.[24]

Procedures

A number of office-based procedures may be performed. While generally safe, rare serious side effects such as perianal sepsis may occur.[6]

Surgery

A number of surgical techniques may be used if conservative management and simple procedures fail.[6] All surgical treatments are associated with some degree of complications including bleeding, infection, anal strictures and urinary retention, due to the close proximity of the rectum to the nerves that supply the bladder.[1] Also, a small risk of fecal incontinence occurs, particularly of liquid,[2][26] with rates reported between 0% and 28%.[27] Mucosal ectropion is another condition which may occur after hemorrhoidectomy (often together with anal stenosis).[28] This is where the anal mucosa becomes everted from the anus, similar to a very mild form of rectal prolapse.[28]

Epidemiology

It is difficult to determine how common hemorrhoids are as many people with the condition do not see a healthcare provider.[11][14] However, symptomatic hemorrhoids are thought to affect at least 50% of the US population at some time during their lives, and around 5% of the population is affected at any given time.[1] Both sexes experience about the same incidence of the condition,[1] with rates peaking between 45 and 65 years.[5] They are more common in Caucasians[32] and those of higher socioeconomic status.[2]

Long-term outcomes are generally good, though some people may have recurrent symptomatic episodes.[11] Only a small proportion of persons end up needing surgery.[2]

History

An 11th-century English miniature: On the right is an operation to remove hemorrhoids.

The first known mention of this disease is from a 1700 BC Egyptian papyrus, which advises: “... Thou shouldest give a recipe, an ointment of great protection; acacia leaves, ground, titurated and cooked together. Smear a strip of fine linen there-with and place in the anus, that he recovers immediately."[10] In 460 BC, the Hippocratic corpus discusses a treatment similar to modern rubber band ligation: "And hemorrhoids in like manner you may treat by transfixing them with a needle and tying them with very thick and woolen thread, for application, and do not forment until they drop off, and always leave one behind; and when the patient recovers, let him be put on a course of Hellebore."[10] Hemorrhoids may have been described in the Bible, with earlier English translations using the now-obsolete spelling "emerods".[5]

Celsus (25 BC – AD 14) described ligation and excision procedures, and discussed the possible complications.[33] Galen advocated severing the connection of the arteries to veins, claiming it reduced both pain and the spread of gangrene.[33] The Susruta Samhita (4th–5th century AD) is similar to the words of Hippocrates, but emphasizes wound cleanliness.[10] In the 13th century, European surgeons such as Lanfranc of Milan, Guy de Chauliac, Henri de Mondeville, and John of Ardene made great progress and development of the surgical techniques.[33]

In medieval times, hemorrhoids were also known as Saint Fiacre's curse after a sixth-century saint who developed them following tilling the soil.[34] The first use of the word "hemorrhoid" in English occurs in 1398, derived from the Old French "emorroides", from Latin hæmorrhoida,[35] in turn from the Greek αἱμορροΐς (haimorrhois), "liable to discharge blood", from αἷμα (haima), "blood"[36] and ῥόος (rhoos), "stream, flow, current",[37] itself from ῥέω (rheo), "to flow, to stream".[38]

Notable cases

Hall-of-Fame baseball player George Brett was removed from a game in the 1980 World Series due to hemorrhoid pain. After undergoing minor surgery, Brett returned to play in the next game, quipping "...my problems are all behind me."[39] Brett underwent further hemorrhoid surgery the following spring.[40] Conservative political commentator Glenn Beck underwent surgery for hemorrhoids, subsequently describing his unpleasant experience in a widely viewed 2008 YouTube video.[41][42] Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter had surgery for hemorrhoids in 1984.[43] Cricketers Matthew Hayden and Viv Richards also had the condition.[44]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 Lorenzo-Rivero, S (August 2009). "Hemorrhoids: diagnosis and current management". Am Surg. 75 (8): 635–42. PMID 19725283.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Beck, David E. (2011). The ASCRS textbook of colon and rectal surgery (2nd ed.). New York: Springer. p. 175. ISBN 978-1-4419-1581-8.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Hemorrhoids". National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. November 2013. Retrieved 15 February 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Sun, Z; Migaly, J (March 2016). "Review of Hemorrhoid Disease: Presentation and Management.". Clinics in colon and rectal surgery. 29 (1): 22–9. PMID 26929748. doi:10.1055/s-0035-1568144.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Kaidar-Person, O; Person, B; Wexner, SD (January 2007). "Hemorrhoidal disease: A comprehensive review" (PDF). Journal of the American College of Surgeons. 204 (1): 102–17. PMID 17189119. doi:10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2006.08.022. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-09-22.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Rivadeneira, DE; Steele, SR; Ternent, C; Chalasani, S; Buie, WD; Rafferty, JL; Standards Practice Task Force of The American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons (September 2011). "Practice parameters for the management of hemorrhoids (revised 2010)". Diseases of the colon and rectum. 54 (9): 1059–64. PMID 21825884. doi:10.1097/DCR.0b013e318225513d.
  7. ↑ Chen, Herbert (2010). Illustrative Handbook of General Surgery. Berlin: Springer. p. 217. ISBN 1-84882-088-7.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Schubert, MC; Sridhar, S; Schade, RR; Wexner, SD (July 2009). "What every gastroenterologist needs to know about common anorectal disorders". World J Gastroenterol. 15 (26): 3201–9. ISSN 1007-9327. PMC 2710774 Freely accessible. PMID 19598294. doi:10.3748/wjg.15.3201.
  9. 1 2 3 4 Hollingshead, JR; Phillips, RK (January 2016). "Haemorrhoids: modern diagnosis and treatment.". Postgraduate Medical Journal. 92 (1083): 4–8. PMID 26561592. doi:10.1136/postgradmedj-2015-133328.
  10. 1 2 3 4 Ellesmore, Windsor (2002). "Surgical History of Haemorrhoids". In Charles MV. Surgical Treatment of Haemorrhoids. London: Springer.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 Davies, RJ (June 2006). "Haemorrhoids.". Clinical evidence (15): 711–24. PMID 16973032.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 Dayton, senior editor, Peter F. Lawrence; editors, Richard Bell, Merril T. (2006). Essentials of general surgery (4th ed.). Philadelphia ;Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins. p. 329. ISBN 978-0-7817-5003-5.
  13. ↑ Azimuddin, edited by Indru Khubchandani, Nina Paonessa, Khawaja (2009). Surgical treatment of hemorrhoids (2nd ed.). New York: Springer. p. 21. ISBN 978-1-84800-313-2.
  14. 1 2 Reese, GE; von Roon, AC; Tekkis, PP (Jan 29, 2009). "Haemorrhoids.". Clinical evidence. 2009. PMC 2907769 Freely accessible. PMID 19445775.
  15. ↑ Bland, Kirby I.; Sarr, Michael G.; Büchler, Markus W.; Csendes, Attila; Garden, Oliver James; Wong, John (2008). General Surgery: Principles and International Practice. Springer Science & Business Media. p. 857. ISBN 9781846288326.
  16. ↑ National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (November 2004). "Hemorrhoids". National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), NIH. Retrieved 18 March 2010.
  17. ↑ Frank J Domino (2012). The 5-Minute Clinical Consult 2013 (Griffith's 5 Minute Clinical Consult). Hagerstown, MD: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. p. 572. ISBN 1-4511-3735-4.
  18. ↑ Glass, [edited by] Jill C. Cash, Cheryl A. Family practice guidelines (2nd ed.). New York: Springer. p. 665. ISBN 978-0-8261-1812-7.
  19. 1 2 Alonso-Coello, P.; Guyatt, G. H.; Heels-Ansdell, D.; Johanson, J. F.; Lopez-Yarto, M.; Mills, E.; Zhuo, Q.; Alonso-Coello, Pablo (2005). Alonso-Coello, Pablo, ed. "Laxatives for the treatment of hemorrhoids". Cochrane Database Syst Rev (4): CD004649. PMID 16235372. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD004649.pub2.
  20. ↑ Lang, DS; Tho, PC; Ang, EN (December 2011). "Effectiveness of the Sitz bath in managing adult patients with anorectal disorders". Japan journal of nursing science : JJNS. 8 (2): 115–28. PMID 22117576. doi:10.1111/j.1742-7924.2011.00175.x.
  21. ↑ "Balsam of Peru contact allergy". Dermnetnz.org. December 28, 2013. Retrieved March 5, 2014.
  22. ↑ The ASCRS Textbook of Colon and Rectal Surgery: Second Edition. 2011. ISBN 978-1-4419-1581-8.
  23. ↑ Alonso-Coello P, Zhou Q, Martinez-Zapata MJ, et al. (August 2006). "Meta-analysis of flavonoids for the treatment of haemorrhoids". Br J Surg. 93 (8): 909–20. PMID 16736537. doi:10.1002/bjs.5378.
  24. ↑ Quijano, CE; Abalos, E (Jul 20, 2005). "Conservative management of symptomatic and/or complicated haemorrhoids in pregnancy and the puerperium". Cochrane database of systematic reviews (Online) (3): CD004077. PMID 16034920. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD004077.pub2.
  25. ↑ Misra, MC; Imlitemsu, (2005). "Drug treatment of haemorrhoids". Drugs. 65 (11): 1481–91. PMID 16134260. doi:10.2165/00003495-200565110-00003.
  26. ↑ Pescatori, M; Gagliardi, G (March 2008). "Postoperative complications after procedure for prolapsed hemorrhoids (PPH) and stapled transanal rectal resection (STARR) procedures". Techniques in coloproctology. 12 (1): 7–19. PMC 2778725 Freely accessible. PMID 18512007. doi:10.1007/s10151-008-0391-0.
  27. ↑ Ommer, A; Wenger, FA; Rolfs, T; Walz, MK (November 2008). "Continence disorders after anal surgery—a relevant problem?". International journal of colorectal disease. 23 (11): 1023–31. PMID 18629515. doi:10.1007/s00384-008-0524-y.
  28. 1 2 Lagares-Garcia, JA; Nogueras, JJ (December 2002). "Anal stenosis and mucosal ectropion.". The Surgical clinics of North America. 82 (6): 1225–31, vii. PMID 12516850. doi:10.1016/s0039-6109(02)00081-6.
  29. ↑ Shanmugam, V; Thaha, MA; Rabindranath, KS; Campbell, KL; Steele, RJ; Loudon, MA (Jul 20, 2005). "Rubber band ligation versus excisional haemorrhoidectomy for haemorrhoids". Cochrane database of systematic reviews (Online) (3): CD005034. PMID 16034963. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD005034.pub2.
  30. ↑ Ratnasingham, K; Uzzaman, M; Andreani, SM; Light, D; Patel, B (2010). "Meta-analysis of the use of glyceryl trinitrate ointment after haemorrhoidectomy as an analgesic and in promoting wound healing". International journal of surgery (London, England). 8 (8): 606–11. PMID 20691294. doi:10.1016/j.ijsu.2010.04.012.
  31. ↑ Jayaraman, S; Colquhoun, PH; Malthaner, RA (Oct 18, 2006). "Stapled versus conventional surgery for hemorrhoids". Cochrane database of systematic reviews (Online) (4): CD005393. PMID 17054255. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD005393.pub2.
  32. ↑ Christian Lynge, Dana; Weiss, Barry D. 20 Common Problems: Surgical Problems And Procedures In Primary Care. McGraw-Hill Professional. p. 114. ISBN 978-0-07-136002-9.
  33. 1 2 3 Agbo, SP (1 January 2011). "Surgical management of hemorrhoids". Journal of Surgical Technique and Case Report. 3 (2): 68. doi:10.4103/2006-8808.92797.
  34. ↑ Cataldo, Peter (2005). "Hemorrhoids". Arlington Heights, IL: American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 30 September 2013.
  35. ↑ hæmorrhoida, Charlton T. Lewis, Charles Short, A Latin Dictionary, on Perseus Digital Library
  36. ↑ αἷμα, Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon, on Perseus Digital Library
  37. ↑ ῥόος, Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon, on Perseus Digital Library
  38. ↑ ῥέω, Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon, on Perseus Digital Library
  39. ↑ Dick Kaegel (March 5, 2009). "Memories fill Kauffman Stadium". Major League Baseball.
  40. ↑ "Brett in Hospital for Surgery". The New York Times. Associated Press. March 1, 1981.
  41. ↑ "Glenn Beck: Put the 'Care' Back in Health Care". ABC Good Morning America. Jan 8, 2008. Retrieved 17 September 2012.
  42. ↑ "Beck From the Dead". YouTube (Mr·Beck speaking from home shortly after hospital). GlennBeckVideos.
  43. ↑ "Carter Leaves Hospital". The New York Times. January 19, 1984. Retrieved 12 September 2013.
  44. ↑ "The Five: Wounded pride". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 24 April 2016.
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