Infrared Coagulation

Coagulation is the process of clotting and destruction of blood vessels. It has been used for many years in the treatment of hemorrhoids. These treatments include cauterizing, heating probes, cryotherapy, and electric current. All of these treatments are used to destroy the affected tissues.

The modern variation of these treatments is infrared coagulation. This procedure uses an infrared beam to coagulate and destroy the affected tissue. This treatment is very reliable, simple, and can be controlled accurately.

Advantages

• The depth of tissue destruction can be easily controlled by length of exposure time
• Short coagulation time (1 second) which allows for easy outpatient procedure
• Finely focused beam, allowing other endoscopic procedures to be conducted alongside the infrared procedure
• No non-contact coagulation
• Does not cause interference with electromagnetic devices (pacemakers)
• Used for 1 to 3 grade hemorrhoids
• Can treat an infinite amount of hemorrhoids in one procedure
• Less painful than other procedures (sclerotherapy and rubber band ligation)

• Expensive tools and necessary skill limit the choice of doctor that can perform this procedure
• May require more than one treatment
• Follow-up treatments after a year are normally required
• Not as effective as rubber band ligation in the long term
• Minor bleeding for 7 to 14 days after the treatment

A complete medical history and physical examination should be performed before a doctor considers you for this procedure.

That patient will lie down on his/her side with knees drawn up to the chest. A proctoscope and infrared coagulator will be inserted into the anus. The patient will feel a sharp prick or burning sensation when the coagulator is used. The coagulator is applied to the base of thehemorrhoids and shoots bursts of infrared for 1 to 1.5 seconds. A white spot marks the point of coagulation. Blood vessels of the hemorrhoids are destroyed, which in turn decreases blood flow to the hemorrhoid. Sometimes this whill immediately reduce bleeding. Over the next week scar tissure forms, and the healing process will be completed.