Treatment Outcomes of Sclerotherapy in Hemorrhoids: A Prospective Observational Study from a Tertiary Care Hospital in Tripura, India

Authors

  • Sourav Das Junior Resident, Department of Surgery, AGMC and GBPH Agartala, India
  • Nilotpal Chakma Associate Professor, Department of Surgery, AGMC and GBPH Agartala, India
  • Pritam Das Assistant Professor, Department of Surgery, AGMC and GBPH Agartala, India
  • Tapash Rudrapaul Assistant Professor, Department of Surgery, AGMC and GBPH Agartala, India
  • Jayati Saha Junior Resident, Department of Surgery, AGMC and GBPH Agartala, India

Abstract

Background: Hemorrhoidal disease is a common anorectal condition causing significant morbidity and impaired quality of life. Sclerotherapy has been increasingly utilized as a minimally invasive and cost-effective therapeutic option, particularly in resource-limited settings. Objective: To evaluate the short-term and mid-term outcomes of sclerotherapy in patients presenting with bleeding hemorrhoids. Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted in the Department of General Surgery, Agartala Government Medical College & GBP Hospital, Tripura, over 18 months. A total of 270 patients with bleeding hemorrhoids were enrolled. Following proctoscopic diagnosis, patients received sclerotherapy using 5% phenol in almond oil, sodium tetradecyl sulphate, or polidocanol. Clinical outcomes were assessed at 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months post-procedure. Results: The mean age of participants was 41.3 years, with a male predominance (64.1%). On proctoscopy, Grade II hemorrhoids were more common (61.1%) than Grade I (38.9%). Symptom resolution was achieved in 94.4% of patients after one week. The recurrence rate of bleeding within six months was 9.8%. Post-procedural complications occurred in 7.9% of cases, most being minor (tenesmus, dizziness, chest pain). Only 7.9% required additional sclerotherapy sessions. Conclusion: Sclerotherapy is a safe, effective, and minimally invasive outpatient procedure for the management of Grade I and II hemorrhoids. Its high symptom resolution and low recurrence rates support its continued use, particularly in regions with limited surgical resources.

Keywords:

Hemorrhoids, Sclerotherapy, Phenol, Polidocanol, Recurrence, Tripura

References

1. Peery AF, Sandler RS, Galanko JA, Bresalier RS, Figueiredo JC, Ahnen DJ, et al. Risk Factors for Hemorrhoids on Screening Colonoscopy. PLoS One. 2015;10:e0139100.

2. Halverson A. Hemorrhoids. Clin Colon Rectal Surg. 2007; 20:77–85.

3. Trompetto M, Clerico G, Cocorullo GF, Giordano P, Marino F, Martellucci J, et al. Evaluation and management of hemorrhoids: Italian society of colorectal surgery (SICCR) consensus statement. Tech Coloproctol. 2015; 19:567–75.

4. Sun Z, Migaly J. Review of Hemorrhoid Disease: Presentation and Management. Clin Colon Rectal Surg. 2016; 29:22–9.

5. Riss S, Weiser FA, Schwameis K, Riss T, Mittlböck M, Steiner G, et al. The prevalence of hemorrhoids in adults. Int J Colorectal Dis. 2012; 27:215-20.

6. Rubbini M, Ascanelli S, Fabbian F. Hemorrhoidal disease: is it time for a new classification? Int J Colorectal Dis. 2018; 33:831-3.

7. Lee JH, Kim HE, Kang JH, Shin JY, Song YM. Factors Associated with Hemorrhoids in Korean Adults: Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Korean J Fam Med. 2014; 35:227-36.

8. Bleday R, Pena JP, Rothenberger DA, Goldberg SM, Buls JG. Symptomatic hemorrhoids: current incidence and complications of operative therapy. Dis Colon Rectum. 1992; 35:477-81.

9. Sanchez C, Chinn BT. Hemorrhoids. Clin Colon Rectal Surg. 2011; 24:5–13.

10. Guttenplan M. The Evaluation and Office Management of Hemorrhoids for the Gastroenterologist. Curr Gastroenterol Rep. 2017; 19:30.

11. Lobascio P, Laforgia R, Novelli E, Perrone F, Di Salvo M, Pezzolla A, et al. Short-Term Results of Sclerotherapy with 3% Polidocanol Foam for Symptomatic Second- and Third-Degree Hemorrhoidal Disease. J Invest Surg. 2021; 34:1059-65.

12. Lisi G, Campanelli M, Grande S, Milito G, Grande M. Sclerotherapy with 3% polidocanol foam for third- and fourth-degree hemorrhoids as "bridge treatment" during the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy. Int J Colorectal Dis. 2021; 36:1321-2.

13. Gallo G, Ronconi M, Trompetto M. Sclerotherapy with 3% polidocanol foam: revolutionizing outpatient treatment in patients with haemorrhoidal disease. Updates Surg. 2021; 73:2029–30.

14. Gallo G, Picciariello A, Armellin C, Lori E, Tomasicchio G, Di Tanna GL, et al. Sclerotherapy for hemorrhoidal disease: systematic review and meta-analysis. Tech Coloproctol. 2024; 28:1-11.

15. Naing L, Winn T, Rusli BN. Practical issues in calculating the sample size for prevalence studies. Arch Orofac Sci. 2006; 1:9-14.

16. Ambedkar V, Singh A, Singh V, Singh Rana D. A prospective study on role of sclerotherapy in management of first- and second-degree haemorrhoids. J Evid Based Med Healthc. 2016;5(61):5007–9.

17. Shah TA, Modi YS, Parmar RH, Sharma C. Randomized study to evaluate the effectiveness of injection sclerotherapy for bleeding Grade I hemorrhoids on outpatient basis. J Indian Med Assoc. 2020;118(7):36–8.

18. Mukadam PN, Kothari KV, Patel AV, Patel UV. A study of clinical features and presentation of patients with Grade I & II haemorrhoids and injection sclerotherapy as a treatment modality. Int Surg J. 2022;9(2):847-51.

19. Cabrera Garrido J, Lopez Gonzalez G. Effective non-surgical treatment of hemorrhoids with sclerosing foam and novel injection device. Gastroenterol Endosc. 2024; 2:176-80.

20. Shekhar R, Gupta VK. Efficacy of foam sclerotherapy in treatment of Grade I and Grade II bleeding hemorrhoids at Nalanda Medical College and Hospital, Patna. Int Surg J. 2020; 7:2925-8.

21. Shekhar R, Gupta VK. Efficacy of foam sclerotherapy in treatment of Grade I and Grade II bleeding hemorrhoids at Nalanda Medical College and Hospital, Patna. Int Surg J. 2020; 7:2925–8.

22. Mishra S, Sahoo AK, Elamurugan TP, Jagdish S. Polidocanol versus phenol in oil injection sclerotherapy in treatment of internal hemorrhoids: A randomized controlled trial. Turk J Gastroenterol. 2020; 31:378-83.

23. Khan SFA, Yadav A, Patel P. Role of sclerotherapy in management of symptomatic first- and second-degree internal haemorrhoids. IOSR J Dent Med Sci. 2022;21(6):56–61.

24. Agrawal P, Saxena AK, Verma P, Yadav A, Sahni R, Parkar ZL, et al. Effectiveness of foam sclerotherapy in treatment of symptomatic haemorrhoidal diseases at a tertiary care hospital, Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India: A prospective interventional study. Int J Anat Radiol Surg. 2023;12(1):SO17-SO20.

25. Khan SFA, Yadav A, Patel P. Role of sclerotherapy in management of symptomatic first- and second-degree internal haemorrhoids. IOSR J Dent Med Sci. 2022;21(6):56–61.

26. Goglia M, Nigro C, Aurello P, Diaco E, Trompetto M, Gallo G. Preliminary results of the first 50 patients undergoing sclerotherapy for II-degree hemorrhoidal disease using an automated device. Front Surg. 2022; 9:882030.

27. Agrawal P, Saxena AK, Verma P, Yadav A, Sahni R, Parkar ZL, et al. Effectiveness of foam sclerotherapy in treatment of symptomatic haemorrhoidal diseases at a tertiary care hospital, Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India: A prospective interventional study. Int J Anat Radiol Surg. 2023;12(1):SO17-SO20.

28. Shafi A, HamayunKhan M, Ahmad T, Mahmood K. Compare the effectiveness of 5% phenol almond oil versus polidocanol sclerotherapy in patients with second degree hemorrhoids. Pak J Med Health Sci. 2021;15(3):730–2.

29. Mukadam PN, Kothari KV, Patel AV, Patel UV. A study of clinical features and presentation of patients with Grade I & II haemorrhoids and injection sclerotherapy as a treatment modality. Int Surg J. 2022;9(2):847–51.

Published

2025-09-25
Statistics
Abstract Display: 0
PDF Downloads: 0