Combined colonoscopy and three-quadrant hemorrhoidal ligation: 500 consecutive cases.

PURPOSE This study was designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of combining outpatient colonoscopy with simultaneous three-quadrant hemorrhoidal ligation in patients with symptomatic internal hemorrhoidal disease. METHODS A four-year analysis of patients undergoing combined colonoscopy and synchronous three-quadrant hemorrhoidal ligation was performed. Indications for the procedure were patients with symptomatic internal hemorrhoids who had failed conservative management and who also required colonoscopy. Conventional colonoscopy was performed under moderate sedation, immediately followed by synchronous three-quadrant hemorrhoidal ligation, using a TriView anoscope and Short-Shot hemorrhoidal ligator. Patients undergoing this procedure were entered in a computer database, and outcomes were tracked. Patients requiring repeat ligation, surgical intervention, or readmission within 30 days were identified and further analyzed. RESULTS Five hundred patients underwent colonoscopy with simultaneous three-quadrant internal hemorrhoid ligation during the study period. Four hundred sixty-seven patients (93.4 percent) had complete resolution of their symptoms and required no further treatment. Thirty-three patients (6.6 percent) required repeat ligation, and 11 (2.2 percent) required completion surgical hemorrhoidectomy for persistent symptoms. Fifty-two patients (10.4 percent) required incidental biopsy/polypectomy during the colonoscopy. Two incidental colon carcinomas were identified, and ligation was deferred. No patients required admission for bleeding after the procedure. There were no cases of pelvic sepsis, and no patients required emergent surgical intervention. CONCLUSIONS Combining colonoscopy with three-quadrant hemorrhoidal ligation is a safe and effective method of treating symptomatic internal hemorrhoids. The procedure is convenient for both physician and patient and makes more efficient use of time and resources.