A prospective study of outcome from rubber band ligation in third degree haemorrhoids

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and effectiveness of rubber band ligation on 3rd degree haemorrhoids. Methods: Study was done at Surgical Unit, Civil Hospital Karachi, during a period of 19 months from December 2006 to July 2008. Out of 344 patients 80 patients were included in the study with 3rd degree internal haemorrhoids and were treated with Rubber band ligation (RBL). Outcome data was recorded for success of treatment. Result: Among 80 patients, 77 (96.25%) were symptom free. After completion of treatment, 1 (16.66%) out of 5 patients had the complaint of pain, 2 (2.85%) out of 70 had complaints of constipation. Before start of treatment 5 (6.25%) patients complained of bleeding per rectum and 73 (91.25%) complained of manually reducible/prolapsed haemorrhoids. Both complaints were cured 100% after treatment. Conclusion: RBL is an efficient, cost-effective and simple out patient procedure for symptomatic third degree haemorrhoids with minimum complications. RBL is a reliable, safe procedure requiring no hospitalization and no use of any anaesthetic drugs.