Doppler-guided hemorrhoidal artery ligation (DG-HAL): a safe treatment of II-III degree hemorrhoids for all patients. Could it be potentially also good prophylaxis?

AIM Doppler-guided hemorrhoidal artery ligation (HAL Doppler) is an innovative hemorrhoid treatment mainly utilised for II-III degree where bleeding is a predominant symptom. This procedure aims at dearterialization of the internal hemorrhoidal plexus by ligation of the terminal branches of the superior rectal artery detected using a special proctoscope and ultrasound system; the procedure is performed entirely above the dentate line, so it is genuinely painless. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy, safety and invasivity of HAL Doppler technique to treat II and III degree hemorrhoids. METHODS The authors treated 148 patients, from May 2002 to December 2007, principally affected by II-III degree hemorrhoids characterized by bleeding and pain at evacuation. These patients were examined in a retrospective observational study of 128 patients, 86% of the group. Follow-up varied from 5 up to 72 months with an average observation time of 36.5 months. RESULTS Success was registered in 90% of patients affected by II-III degree hemorrhoids and the absence of major complications (hemorrhage, incontinence, stenosis, perforation, sepsis). CONCLUSION The authors suggest the safety, efficacy and low invasity of HAL Doppler for treatment of II-III degree hemorrhoids, which also found in the literature, and highlight its use in treating patients with unhealthy conditions which are a contraindication to the usual surgical treatments. Moreover, they suppose the use of HAL Doppler in low degree hemorrhoids as a therapeutic and also prophylactic rule of advanced degree.