The word “hemorrhoid” is an old one. The origin of the word comes from the Greek “haema” or blood and “rhoos” or flowing. The use of the word is largely attributed by scholars to Hippocrates in 460 BC.
Indeed, since the beginning of written history, mankind has suffered from, and devised many treatments for hemorrhoids. This includes the first use of ligation during the renaissance by Lorenz Heister and the expansion of surgical procedures using a combination of excision and ligation by Frederick Salmon in 1888. Salmon’s method was so popular that little was changed up until a few decades ago. But since the mid 20th century, there have been major strides in the treatment of hemorrhoids.
Florida Hemorrhoid Treatment
Here at the Hemorrhoid Treatment Center of Florida, we not only use many of the most advanced procedures for hemorrhoid removal, but we have also been instrumental in developing some of the most effective treatments available.
David H. Shapiro M.D. has been a prominent authority on the subject of hemorrhoids and was one of the doctors contributing to the research and design of the Ultroid® hemorrhoid treatment system. This quick, easy, painless and effective treatment for internal hemorrhoids takes 1-3 office visits and 10 minutes to complete and requires no surgery, anesthesia or preparatory procedures.
Although still used occasionally by some doctors, both laser treatment of hemorrhoids and cryosurgery have been relegated to the second-tier of option. Even so, it is important to understand your full options to see how effective HET and the other primary methods HTCF employs actually are.
Laser Treatment
The use of medical lasers became popular with the advent of the laparoscopic or belly button operation for removal of the gall bladder; cholecystectomy. It soon became apparent that it was associated with complications because of unintended tissue destruction and was replaced by electrocoagulation.
The advantage of the laser technology is the ability to transmit the beam through flexible light conducting fibers and it has a place in many applications with the endoscope in esophageal and endovascular surgery. It has all been all but abandoned for internal and external hemorrhoid treatment because it offers no advantage over conventional methods including use of the standard scalpel, the harmonic scalpel, the Ligasure, (which creates intense focused heat that destroys tissue) or electocoagulation.
Cryosurgery
Cryosurgery is a technique that is currently not often used for the treatment of hemorrhoids and there is little in the recent literature comparing it to other methods. It entails the application of subzero temperature via a probe to the tissues that crystallizes the fluid cellular content in the cells and the extracellular fluid as well and results in the destruction of the tissue that is treated. Necrosis and then fibrosis or scarring then occurs. Bleeding, infection and anal stenosis are known complications. Cryosurgery is time-consuming. Additionally, there is often a large amount of discharge, and recovery is prolonged as is time away from work.
These treatments, although still performed in certain circumstances, are considered a secondary option to the Ultroid® treatment. Even so, the best way to figure out what treatment option is better for your personal situation is to speak with an experienced hemorrhoid doctor who is well versed on the subject and can advise you effectively.
Advances in Florida Hemorrhoid Treatment
If you are currently suffering from hemorrhoids, now is the time to find a solution to this inconvenient and painful medical issue. Call the knowledgeable staff at the Hemorrhoid Treatment Center of Florida at (727) 724-4279 or send an online message to schedule a free consultation to go over your possible treatment options.
With over 40 years of medical experience, Dr. Shapiro will personally help you through the process while making certain you are taking part in the best treatment for your particular case. Although he does not perform laser/cryosurgery procedures, they prove that the treatments that HTCF implements are the most advanced available.