Is surgery necessary for thrombosed external hemorrhoids?

Written by Chen Tian Jing
Colorectal Surgery
Updated on April 25, 2025
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Thrombotic external hemorrhoids do not necessarily require surgery during the acute phase of an attack. If the thrombotic external hemorrhoids are mild, Chinese herbal medicine can be used for local topical application to relieve symptoms. Early-stage or mild thrombotic external hemorrhoids may only form small thrombi, and the pain experienced by the patient is not very intense. Therefore, one can opt to use Chinese herbal washes for hot compresses and fumigation, along with the application of hemorrhoid cream to alleviate symptoms. However, it is only recommended to perform excision surgery for thrombotic external hemorrhoids if they are acutely recurring over a long period or repeatedly, severely affecting the patient's life. (Please use medication under the guidance of a professional physician and avoid self-medication.)

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Written by Yu Xu Chao
Colorectal Surgery
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The difference between internal and external hemorrhoids

Internal hemorrhoids are located above the dentate line in the anal canal, at the end of the rectum, and are innervated by the autonomic nervous system. Clinically, they are mainly characterized by intermittent, painless rectal bleeding. The blood is bright red, often dripping or spraying after defecation. If internal hemorrhoids worsen, they can prolapse and even become strangulated and edematous, causing anal swelling and pain. External hemorrhoids, on the other hand, are located below the dentate line in the anal canal, and are innervated by the spinal nerves, making them more sensitive to pain. Clinically, they are categorized into skin tag-type external hemorrhoids, varicose vein-type external hemorrhoids, inflammatory external hemorrhoids, and thrombotic external hemorrhoids. Skin tag-type and varicose vein-type external hemorrhoids primarily cause a sensation of a foreign body and itching in the anus, while inflammatory or thrombotic external hemorrhoids can lead to an increase in perianal secretions and anal swelling and pain, necessitating prompt surgical removal of the external hemorrhoids.

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Written by Yu Xu Chao
Colorectal Surgery
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Can external hemorrhoids heal by themselves?

External hemorrhoids can be classified into cutaneous flap hemorrhoids, varicose vein hemorrhoids, thrombotic hemorrhoids, and inflammatory hemorrhoids. These are mostly caused by poor defecation habits of the patient, such as prolonged defecation time or excessive straining during bowel movements, which then lead to the growth of excess skin flaps, varicose veins, or rupture of venous blood vessels, resulting in various types of external hemorrhoids. Therefore, these types of hemorrhoids cannot heal on their own and require treatment with medication or surgery. For cutaneous flap hemorrhoids, if the patient does not experience significant discomfort, specific treatment is generally not necessary, just attention to hygiene around the anal area is needed. However, for inflammatory or thrombotic hemorrhoids, since they can cause anal pain and a feeling of prolapse, it is advisable to opt for surgical stripping of the hemorrhoids as soon as possible. Post-surgery, treatments such as anal washes, red oil gauze strips, and golden ointment should be used for dressing changes, while also maintaining cleanliness of the anal region.

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Written by Deng Heng
Colorectal Surgery
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What should I do about thrombosed external hemorrhoids?

Thrombotic external hemorrhoids often occur due to intense exercise, straining during bowel movements, eating spicy and stimulating foods, or after fatigue. The onset of thrombotic external hemorrhoids is quite sudden, presenting as a round or oval lump under the skin at the edge of the anus during defecation, with the lump being a subcutaneous blood clot formed from subcutaneous bleeding. The treatment method for thrombotic external hemorrhoids is determined by the amount of subcutaneous bleeding. If the diameter of the thrombus is less than 0.5 centimeters, conservative treatment can be chosen, which includes eating more vegetables and fruits to keep bowel movements smooth and applying hemorrhoid creams and suppositories. If the thrombotic external hemorrhoids do not respond to conservative treatment and the thrombus cannot be absorbed and resolved, a thrombotic external hemorrhoid excision procedure may be adopted.

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Written by Chen Tian Jing
Colorectal Surgery
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What fruits should be eaten for thrombotic external hemorrhoids?

During the acute phase of thrombosed external hemorrhoids, patients experience varying degrees of pain in the anal region, occasionally accompanied by a feeling of bloating. Therefore, the diet should primarily consist of light, liquid, and easy-to-digest foods. If consuming fruits, it is best to eat soft, cool-natured fruits such as dragon fruit and bananas, avoiding hard or tropical fruits that may cause dry stools, which can exacerbate the symptoms of thrombosed external hemorrhoids. During the acute phase of thrombosed external hemorrhoids, in addition to dietary considerations, it is also necessary to use topical hemorrhoid cream locally or undergo surgery to excise and strip the local thrombosis for significant symptom relief, to prevent the condition from worsening, which could lead to increased thrombosis or necrosis.

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Written by Deng Heng
Colorectal Surgery
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Can external hemorrhoids be treated without surgery?

Some external hemorrhoids do not require surgical treatment, as they come in three types. The first type, connective tissue external hemorrhoids, mainly presents as a mild foreign body sensation, generally painless, thus surgery is not necessary. Varicose vein type external hemorrhoids typically cause a feeling of heaviness and discomfort around the anus, and if symptoms are not severe, surgery is not required either. Only thrombosed external hemorrhoids, which usually involve severe pain, may resolve significantly on their own within two to three days if the lump is not large. Surgery is only needed for large, thrombosed external hemorrhoids.