NON-OPERATIVE TREATMENT OF INTERNAL HEMORRHOIDS

It has been estimated that about one-half of the adult population has internal hemorrhoids. While the majority of these experience relatively few symptoms, a considerable number continue to suffer discomfort because of unwillingness or inability to accept the expense and loss of time necessitated by operation. Ligation by elastic ligatures of certain selected groups of internal hemorrhoids is an alternative procedure which can be done easily by the doctor in his office with minimal distress to the patient. A special instrument devised by Blaisdell and modified by Barron is required. The experience gained in the ligation treatment of 400 patients with internal hemorrhoids is the basis of this report.