Abstract: Aim: To evaluate the long-term outcome of endoscopic band ligation of symptomatic internal haemorrhoids.
Methods: A total of 70 subjects fulfilling the inclusion criteria were included. After thorough history taking and proctoscopic examination, patients with symptomatic internal haemorrhoids were subjected to Endoscopic band ligation, and followed up at 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 2 months and 6 months, and assessed for pain, recurrence and bleeding.
Results: The number of band ligations averaged 2.37 per subject. 4.3% of them experienced mild pain by 4 weeks, whereas the rest were free of pain. At the end of 6 months, 5.7% of subjects were still symptomatic and 8.6% had recurrent per rectal bleed. A total of 8.6% of subjects needed repeat ligation for alleviation of symptoms, and 1.4% needed definitive surgery.
Conclusion: Endoscopic band ligation is a simple and effective procedure that can be carried out in symptomatic internal haemorrhoids on out-patient basis.
