

Deng Heng

About me
Member of the Communist Party of China, attending physician in the Department of Anorectal Surgery, holder of a full-time Master's degree, published 2 SCI-indexed papers as the first author and several papers in Chinese core journals. Leading one Anhui Provincial Natural Science Foundation project, and one university-level research project at Anhui University of Chinese Medicine. Skilled in treating anorectal diseases using a combination of traditional Chinese and Western medicine.
Proficient in diseases
Hemorrhoids (including internal hemorrhoids, external hemorrhoids, mixed hemorrhoids), anal fissure, anal fistula, perianal abscess, anorectal sinusitis, cryptoglandular sinus, rectal polyps, anal itching, constipation, and other anorectal diseases.
Voices

Why is it difficult to cure internal hemorrhoids bleeding?
Internal hemorrhoids refer to the soft venous masses formed by the dilation and varicosity of the hemorrhoidal venous plexus located beneath the mucosa at the end of the rectum, above the dentate line of the anus. Once these masses have formed, they contain blood vessels which can rupture, leading to bleeding during bowel movements, evident as blood mixed with stool. Once these pathological masses have formed, it is very difficult to completely heal them with medication alone; surgical removal of these venous masses is required to prevent recurrent bleeding. Therefore, if conservative treatment is applied, it only slightly alleviates symptoms. If any triggering factors are present, bleeding may recur.

Is rectal prolapse the same as hemorrhoids?
Rectal prolapse and hemorrhoids are two different diseases. Rectal prolapse refers to the condition where the rectal mucosa, or sometimes the entire rectal wall, prolapses downwards during defecation, prolonged standing, or fatigue, especially in severe cases. Hemorrhoids, on the other hand, involve the prolapse of vascular cushions and anal padding, sometimes accompanied by symptoms like rectal bleeding. The causes, mechanisms, pathology, symptoms, and treatment methods of these two conditions are distinct, making rectal prolapse and hemorrhoids two separate diseases.

Does an anal fistula require surgery?
The treatment of anal fistula mainly focuses on surgical treatment, with medication as a secondary support. This means that without surgery, an anal fistula essentially cannot heal. Non-conservative treatments for anal fistulas are only temporary symptomatic treatments that manage the condition and alleviate clinical symptoms. For example, during an acute attack of an anal fistula, anti-inflammatory drugs can be used to temporarily relieve symptoms such as pain. Therefore, surgery is necessary for anal fistulas, as surgical treatment can completely eradicate the source of the disease, addressing the internal and external origins of the fistula for a complete cure.

How long does it take to recover after external hemorrhoidectomy?
External hemorrhoids are mainly classified into inflammatory external hemorrhoids, thrombotic external hemorrhoids, connective tissue external hemorrhoids, and varicose vein external hemorrhoids. Regardless of the type, the primary treatment method is surgical removal. After the hemorrhoids are excised, the perianal area generally does not bleed when passing stools for the first two to three days, and the patient can usually go home in about 7 days. For complete recovery to the pre-condition state, it is estimated to take between 20 days to a month.

What foods should be avoided if there is bleeding from internal hemorrhoids?
Internal hemorrhoids bleeding is the main clinical symptom of internal hemorrhoids; the amount of bleeding can vary greatly and is usually bright red. It can spray out or drip out. Patients with internal hemorrhoids bleeding are advised to avoid eating chili peppers and drinking alcohol. This is because chili peppers contain a component called capsaicin, which strongly irritates the gastrointestinal mucosa and can dilate blood vessels, exacerbating the bleeding. Alcohol can also dilate blood vessels and worsen the bleeding.

The difference between rectal prolapse and rectal prolapse
The term "rectal prolapse" used in folk vernacular covers a wide range, such as incarcerated hemorrhoids, inflammatory external hemorrhoids, thrombosed external hemorrhoids, rectal polyps, and rectal prolapse itself are all referred to as rectal prolapse. Of course, this also includes cases where, due to a lack of medical knowledge, any tumors or flesh-like growth protruding from inside to outside the anus are collectively termed as rectal prolapse. It is evident that the folk term “rectal prolapse” includes conditions like prolapsed rectum, prolapsed internal hemorrhoids, or prolapsed polyps, while the modern medical definition of rectal prolapse specifically refers to the protrusion of the rectum and its mucous membrane; the two should not be confused.

What foods should be avoided with anal fissures?
People with anal fissures should avoid consuming chili peppers and alcohol. Chili peppers contain a compound called capsaicin, which can strongly irritate the nerves in the gastrointestinal tract and the ulcers of anal fissures, causing severe pain in the affected area. Additionally, capsaicin can dilate the mucosal blood vessels, leading to bleeding in the anal fissures. Alcohol has a similar effect, as it can exacerbate congestion and blood stasis in the anal and rectal areas. In most cases, consuming chili peppers and alcohol can intensify the pain.

The harm of internal hemorrhoids prolapse
Prolapsed internal hemorrhoids are one of the main clinical manifestations of internal hemorrhoids, and their harm is mainly manifested in two aspects: Firstly, the prolapse of hemorrhoidal tissue outside the anus can lead to perianal skin eczema and itching, and anal eczema. Secondly, it can lead to incarcerated hemorrhoids, where the prolapsed internal hemorrhoid, held by the sphincter, forms congestion, and is accompanied by hardening of the hemorrhoidal tissue, pain, and even necrosis.

Clinical Characteristics of External Hemorrhoids
External hemorrhoids refer to hemorrhoids located below the dentate line, which are classified into four main types, each with distinct clinical manifestations. Connective tissue external hemorrhoids and varicose vein-type external hemorrhoids primarily present with a mild sensation of a foreign body in the anus. Inflammatory external hemorrhoids are characterized by redness, swelling, protrusion, burning, or itching of the anal skin or skin tags. Thrombosed external hemorrhoids often occur after intense exercise or straining during bowel movements, suddenly presenting as a round or oval lump under the skin at the edge of the anus. This lump contains a venous thrombus and is accompanied by anal pain.

Can anal fistula be completely cured?
Anal fistulas rarely heal naturally, and surgery is the only treatment method to achieve healing. The reasons are as follows: Aside from an external opening on the skin around the anus, an anal fistula also has a primary infectious internal opening in the anal crypt. The two openings are interconnected, allowing bacteria and intestinal contents to enter the fistula tract through the internal opening, leading to recurrent infections. Persistent inflammation often prevents pus from draining through the external opening. There are complex relationships between the fistula and the sphincter muscles, and the frequent contraction and relaxation of the sphincter muscles can compress the tract, making it easy for pus to remain and cause infection. Therefore, surgery is necessary to completely cure an anal fistula.