Hemorrhoid Banding
Hemorrhoid banding is used to treat engorged blood vessels called hemorrhoids that occur in the lower rectum and anal opening. Also referred to as rubber band ligation, hemorrhoid banding is a commonly used non-surgical hemorrhoid procedure in the United States. It is generally considered to be more effective in the long-term than either infrared coagulation or injection sclerotherapy.
Acadiana Gastroenterology Associates specializes in using the CRH O’Regan System™ of hemorrhoid banding that is virtually painless and takes only a few minutes to perform.
If multiple hemorrhoids require treatment, then they are generally treated one at a time during separate visits.
Hemorrhoid Banding Procedure
During the procedure, your gastroenterologist places a small rubber band around the hemorrhoidal tissue.
The CRH O’Regan system reduces unnecessary discomfort during the procedure by using a gentle suction device to grasp the tissue instead of the traditional metal-toothed clamp. This reduces the risk of pain and bleeding during the procedure.
The banding procedure treats hemorrhoids by cutting off their blood supply. This causes the hemorrhoid to shrivel and eventually fall off within a few days of the procedure. Many patients do not notice when the hemorrhoid falls off. Once the hemorrhoid is removed, the wound will heal itself in about a week.
Benefits and Risks of CRH O’Regan Hemorrhoid Banding
The advanced CRH O’Regan banding procedure has a ten-fold reduction in complications in comparison to traditional banding measures. The instrument used during the CRH O’Regan procedure is smaller than traditional banding tools, which allows for greater comfort for the patient and easier maneuverability for the physician.
The device is also disposable and only used once, which offers a higher standard of sanitation to the patient and eliminates the risk of infectious disease being transferred through the instrument itself due to inadequate sterilization.
In some cases, the hemorrhoid banding procedure can be conducted during the patient’s initial consultation with their physician.
Source: CRH O’Regan System. CRH Medical Corporation. http://www.crhsystem.com/patients-crh-oregan-system.html. Accessed January 4, 2012.
