Haemorrhoids

Also known as Piles

We have selected the following expert medical opinion based on its clarity, reliability and accuracy. Credits: Sourced from the website Patient UK, authored by Dr Colin Tidy (see below). Please refer to your own medical practitioner for a final perspective, assessment or evaluation.

Overview

What are piles?

Piles, called ‘haemorrhoids’ in medical terminology, are swellings that develop inside and around the back passage (anal canal). There is a network of small veins (blood vessels) within the lining of the anal canal. These veins sometimes become wider and engorged with more blood than usual. The engorged veins and the overlying tissue may then form into one or more swellings (piles).

How common are they?

Piles are very common but not something you'll want to talk to your friends about. We don't know precisely how common piles are because many piles are small and not seen by a doctor. Piles often don't cause any problems but can cause bleeding and sometimes pain. If they do cause any bleeding or pain, then you should see a doctor.

What different types are there?

Piles can be divided into either internal or external piles. Some people develop internal and external piles at the same time.

Internal piles are deeper and initially form above a point 2-3 cm inside the back passage (anal canal) in the upper part of the anal canal.

External piles start off nearer the surface, below a point 2-3 cm inside the back passage.

Despite the name, external piles aren't always seen outside of the opening of the back passage (anus). Equally confusing, internal piles can enlarge and drop down (prolapse), so that they hang outside of the anus.

Piles are also graded by their size and severity.

Symptoms

What are the symptoms of piles?

Symptoms can vary depending on the size, position and grade of the pile.

Grade 1 are small swellings on the inside lining of the anal canal. They cannot be seen or felt from outside the opening of the back passage (anus). Grade 1 piles are common. In some people they enlarge further to grade 2 or more.

Grade 2 are larger. They may be partly pushed out from the anus when you go to the toilet, but quickly spring back inside again.

Grade 3 hang out from the anus when you go to the toilet. You may feel one or more as small, soft lumps that hang from the anus. However, you can push them back inside the anus with a finger.

Grade 4 permanently hang down from within the anus, and you cannot push them back inside. They sometimes become quite large.

Sometimes there are no symptoms and may not realise that you have any piles.

The most common symptom is bleeding after going to the toilet to pass stools (faeces). The blood is usually bright red and may be noticed on the toilet tissue, in the toilet pan or coating the stools.

A pile can hang down (prolapse) and can be felt outside the back passage. Often, it can be pushed back up after you have been to the toilet. However, more severe piles remain permanently prolapsed and cannot be pushed back up inside.

Small internal piles are usually painless. Larger piles may cause a mucous discharge, some pain, irritation and itch. The discharge may irritate the skin around the anus. You may have a sense of fullness in the anus, or a feeling of not fully emptying your back passage when you go to the toilet.

What are the complications of piles?

A possible complication of piles that hang down is that they can 'strangulate'. This means that the blood supply to the pile has been cut off. A blood clot (thrombosis) can form within the pile. This causes really severe pain if it occurs. The pain usually reaches a peak after 48-72 hours and then gradually goes away over 7-10 days.

Causes

What causes piles?

About half of everyone in the UK develop one or more piles at some stage of their life. The lining of the back passage (anal canal) contains many blood vessels (veins). There seem to be certain changes in the veins within the lining of the back passage that cause the pile(s) to develop. The lining of the back passage and the veins become much larger and this can then cause a swelling and develop into a pile.

However, we don't know exactly what causes a pile. Some piles seem to develop for no apparent reason. It is thought that there is an increased pressure in and around the opening of the back passage (anus). This is probably a major factor in causing haemorrhoids in many cases. If you delay going to the toilet and need to strain when on the toilet then this can increase the pressure and so makes it more likely that a pile will develop.

What makes piles more likely?

There are certain situations that increase the chance of piles developing:

Constipation, passing large stools (faeces), and straining at the toilet: These increase the pressure in and around the veins in the anus and seem to be a common reason for piles to develop.

Being overweight: This increases your risk of developing piles.

Pregnancy: Piles are common during pregnancy. This is probably due to pressure effects of the baby lying above the rectum and anus, and also the affect that the change in hormones during pregnancy can have on the veins. Piles occurring during pregnancy often go away after the birth of the child.

Ageing: The tissues in the lining of the anus may become less supportive as we become older.

Hereditary factors: Some people may inherit a weakness of the wall of the veins in the anal region.

Other possible causes of piles include heavy lifting or a persistent (chronic) cough.

Diagnosis

Do I need any tests?

If you think that you may have piles, or have bleeding or pain from your back passage (anal canal), you should visit your doctor.

Piles are usually diagnosed after your doctor asks you questions about your symptoms and performs a physical examination. The examination usually includes an examination of your back passage. Wearing gloves and using a lubricant, your doctor will examine your back passage with their finger to look for any signs of piles or other abnormalities.

Your doctor may suggest a further examination called a proctoscopy. In this procedure, the inside of your back passage is examined using an instrument called a proctoscope. You may be referred to a specialist for more detailed bowel examination (colonoscopy) to help rule out other conditions.

Treatment

How are piles treated?

Various preparations and brands are commonly used. They do not cure piles. However, they may ease symptoms such as discomfort and itch.

• Avoid constipation and straining at the toilet
• Keep the stools (faeces) soft, and don't strain on the toilet. You can do this by:
• Eating plenty of fibre (for example, fruit, vegetables, cereals and wholegrain bread).
• Have lots to drink. Most sorts of drink will do but too much alcohol and caffeine should be avoided.
• Fibre supplements. If a high-fibre diet is not helping, you can take fibre supplements (bulking agents) such as ispaghula, methylcellulose, bran or sterculia.
• Avoid painkillers that contain codeine, such as co-codamol, as they are a common cause of constipation. However, simple painkillers such as paracetamol may help.
• Go to the toilet as soon as possible after feeling the need. Do not strain on the toilet.
• Regular exercise helps to reduce constipation.

These measures will often ease symptoms such as bleeding and discomfort. It may be all that you need to treat small and non-prolapsing piles (grade 1). Small grade 1 piles often settle down over time.

Ointments, creams and suppositories

A bland soothing cream, ointment, or suppository may ease discomfort.

One that contains an anaesthetic may ease pain better. You should only use one of these for short periods at a time (5-7 days).

Preparations which contain a corticosteroid for treating piles may be advised by a doctor if there is a lot of inflammation around the piles. This may help to ease itch and pain. You should not normally use a steroid cream or ointment for longer than one week at a time.

What procedures are used to treat piles?

Banding treatment

Banding is the most commonly used procedure, especially for grade 2 and 3 piles. It may also be done to treat grade 1 piles which have not settled with the simple advice and treatment outlined above.

This procedure is usually done by a surgeon in an outpatient clinic. A haemorrhoid is grasped by the surgeon with forceps or a suction device. A rubber band is then placed at the base of the haemorrhoid. This cuts off the blood supply to the haemorrhoid which then dies and drops off after a few days. The tissue at the base of the haemorrhoid heals with some scar tissue.

Banding of internal piles is usually painless, as the base of the haemorrhoid originates above the anal opening in the very last part of the gut where the gut lining is not sensitive to pain.

In about 8 in 10 cases, the piles are cured by this technique. In about 2 in 10 cases, the piles come back at some stage. (However, you can have a further banding treatment if this occurs.) Piles are less likely to come back after banding if you do not become constipated and do not strain on the toilet (as described above).

A small number of people have complications following banding, such as bleeding, infection or ulcers forming at the site of a treated haemorrhoid, or urinary problems.

Injection sclerotherapy

Phenol in oil is injected into the tissues at the base of the piles. This causes a scarring (fibrotic) reaction which obliterates the blood vessels going to the piles. The piles then die and drop off, similar to after banding.

Infrared coagulation/photocoagulation

This method uses infrared energy to burn and cut off the circulation to the haemorrhoid, which causes it to shrink in size. It seems to be as effective as banding treatment and injection sclerotherapy for first- and second-degree piles.

Diathermy and electrotherapy

This uses heat energy to destroy the piles. They appear to have similar success rates as infrared coagulation and the risk of any complications is low.

What are the surgical options?

Haemorrhoidectomy (the traditional operation):

An operation to cut away the haemorrhoid(s) is an option to treat grade 3 or 4 piles or for piles not successfully treated by banding or other methods. The operation is done under general anaesthetic and is usually successful. However, it can be quite painful in the days following the operation.

Stapled haemorrhoidopexy:

A circular stapling gun is used to cut out a circular section of the lining of the back passage (anal canal) above the piles. This has the effect of pulling the piles back up the back passage. It also has the effect of reducing the blood supply to the piles and so they shrink as a consequence. Because the cutting is actually above the piles, it is usually a less painful procedure than the traditional operation to remove the piles.

Haemorrhoidal artery ligation:

The small arteries that supply blood to the piles are tied (ligated). This causes the haemorrhoid(s) to shrink.

What about strangulated or thrombosed piles?

Strangulated or thrombosed piles are uncommon but usually very painful. Treatments usually include bed rest, medication for pain relief, hot baths, ice packs and keeping your stools (faeces) soft (see above). Surgery may, rarely, be needed to remove the haemorrhoid.

About the author

Dr Colin Tidy

MBBS, MRCGP, MRCP, DCH

Dr Colin Tidy qualified as a doctor in 1983 and he has been writing for Patient since 2004. Dr Tidy has 25 years’ experience as a General Practitioner. He now works as a GP in Oxfordshire, with a special interest in teaching doctors and nurses, as well as medical students.  In addition to writing many leaflets and articles for Patient, Dr Tidy has also contributed to medical journals and written a number of educational articles for General Practitioner magazines.

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