Our Operating Hours:

Mon to Fri : 9am to 5pm
Sat            : 9am to 12pm
Closed on Sun & Public Holidays 

Novena Medical Center

Unit 09-01

What is Haemorrhoids (Piles) ?

Piles or Haemorrhoids are vascular cushions normally found within the anus and lower rectum. When these cushions swell up or bleed - they may cause problems. Piles are often categorized as external or internal piles. For the purpose of treatment, piles can be classified into first to forth degree piles. Whereas, first and second degree piles can be treated without surgery, third and fourth degree piles almost always require surgery if symptomatic. Non symptomatic piles need not be treated.

How are piles treated?

Mild symptoms can be relieved frequently by improving and regularizing bowel habit. Increasing fluid in the diet will help too. Eliminating excessive straining reduces the pressure on piles and helps prevent them from protruding.

Rubber band ligation
Elastic bands are applied onto an internal hemorrhoid to cut off its blood supply.Within several days, the withered hemorrhoid is sloughed off during normal bowel movement.

Hemorrhoidectomy
A true surgical procedure to excise and remove hemorrhoids. Has possible correlation with incontinence issues later in life; in addition, many patients complain that pain during recovery is severe. For this reason is often now recommended only for severe (grade IV) hemorrhoids.

Stapled Hemorrhoidectomy

Also called the procedure for prolapse and hemorrhoids, it is designed to resect soft tissue proximal to the dentate line, which disrupts the blood flow to the hemorrhoids. It is generally less painful than complete removal of hemorrhoids and also allows for faster recovery times. It's meant for hemorrhoids that fall out or bleed and is not helpful for painful external piles.

Tell me more about the surgery...

After surgery for piles, there is still a small risk of recurrence. Further treatment may be required in a small proportion of patients. Haemorrhoidectomy be performed under the appropriate anesthesia and technique- so that pain is minimised. Most haemorrhoidectomy surgery is performed on an outpatient basis, although some patients may have to stay overnight.