Dr. Parveen Bhatia
Consultant Laparoscopic Surgeon & Medical Director,
Bhatia Global Hospital & Endosurgery Institute
www.bhatiaglobalhospital.com
Email: bhatiaglobal@yahoo.co.in

 

WHAT ARE PILES?
Piles are swollen blood vessels in the back passage. They may occur inside our body, in the anal canal, or sometimes be felt outside the anus. In this case, they are called prolapsed piles. As many as one in three of us will experience piles at some stage in our lives.

HOW DO I KNOW IF I'VE GOT PILES?
Piles is a distressing condition which, at its least, causes itching and discomfort around the back passage and, at its worst, becomes severe condition involving pain and bleeding. You may feel an uncomfortable weight around your anus, or experience discomfort or pain when passing motions. You may find blood on your stools or on your undergarments after opening your bowels, and, if your piles are prolapsed, you will be able to feel them when washing after going to the toilet.

HOW DO YOU GET THEM?
The most usual cause is constipation-pushing hard to passing motions puts a strain on the veins in the anal canal and they will eventually enlarge and become piles. They are more common in women during pregnancy and after childbirth and there is some evidence to suggest that piles run in families.

IS THERE A WAY OF PREVENTING THEM IN THE FIRST PLACE?
Try to increase the amount of fibre in your diet, eat more cereals, fruits & vegetables. The fibre and liquid will add bulk to your stools which helps the waste move through the intestines and results in soft stools which are quick and easy to pass.

WHAT IF THIS DOESN T HELP?
Your physician will assess the severity of the condition. If conventional palliative treatments don t clear them up, your doctor may recommend surgery.

I'VE HEARD THAT SURGERY FOR PILES ISN T VERY PLEASANT
Surgery is an option that doctors have historically hesitated to recommend. It is an unfortunate fact that many patients suffered some severe post-surgery discomfort pain, and had to take considerable time away from work.



A NEW PROCEDURE IS AVAILABLE-MIPH
A new procedure is being increasingly recommended by surgeons in a number of hospitals around the country. Many thousands of patients world-wide and in India have had their piles successfully treated using this procedure.

MINIMALLY INVASIVE PROCEDURE FOR HEMORRHOIDS (MIPH)
This operation can also be performed as day surgery under a very short general anaesthetic (even under a regional anaesthetic under certain conditions) and you may go home the same day or next day. Patients who have undergone this operation report that their post operative pain levels are very low, and say they are able to resume normal activities within very few days of going home.

TECHNIQUE
Places the hemorrhoids back into anal cavity rather than just treating it or cutting it off; 30 to 45 minute procedure; recovery is much less painful than with surgery that requires cutting; involves a section of the anus that has few pain receptors; return to normal activity in significantly shorter time than patients undergoing conventional hemorrhoidectomy; can be performed under local, regional or general anesthesia.

BENEFITS
Reduced pain
Shorter hospital stay
Reduced blood loss
Faster return to normal activity
Significantly reduced post surgery discomfort