Can external hemorrhoids be treated without surgery?

Written by Deng Heng
Colorectal Surgery
Updated on October 27, 2024
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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.

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Written by Deng Heng
Colorectal Surgery
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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.

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Written by Chen Tian Jing
Colorectal Surgery
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What is inside a thrombotic external hemorrhoid?

Thrombotic external hemorrhoids are a common clinical presentation of external hemorrhoids. During an episode, blood clots generally form within the hemorrhoidal nucleus, which means that thrombotic external hemorrhoids mainly consist of blood clot particles. Because the blood clots are wrapped inside the hemorrhoidal nucleus, the pressure inside the nucleus increases, leading to congestion and edema. Patients experience significant pain and a feeling of fullness. Severe symptoms may also affect the patient's ability to sit or walk normally. Therefore, it is crucial to treat thrombotic external hemorrhoids early in their development. For early-stage mild thrombotic external hemorrhoids, local treatments such as hot compresses with hemorrhoidal medication or manual pressure can be employed to promote the absorption of the blood clots. Oral medications that reduce swelling, relieve pain, and stop bleeding can also be used for symptomatic relief. If thrombotic external hemorrhoids recur frequently or if conservative medication fails, surgical excision and stripping of the thrombotic external hemorrhoids can also be considered.

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Written by Yu Xu Chao
Colorectal Surgery
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Do external hemorrhoids require surgery?

If external hemorrhoids do not cause any discomfort to the patient, then it is possible to delay surgical treatment in this situation. This is because the treatment of external hemorrhoids is primarily based on their clinical symptoms to choose different treatment methods. If it is simply a case of redundant skin hemorrhoids, where the patient only experiences a slight foreign body sensation in the anus, surgical intervention is not necessary. The patient only needs to maintain smooth bowel movements, perform more anal lifting exercises, avoid prolonged sitting and squatting, and take a warm saltwater sitz bath after defecation to prevent exacerbation of the external hemorrhoids. However, if the external hemorrhoid node develops inflammatory edema or thrombosis, causing anal swelling and pain, and the patient is unable to walk normally, it is then recommended to promptly visit the proctology department of a hospital to undergo external hemorrhoidectomy, to prevent worsening of the inflammatory edema or thrombosis, leading to significant anal swelling and pain.

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Written by Chen Tian Jing
Colorectal Surgery
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Can thrombotic external hemorrhoids be lanced?

Thrombosed external hemorrhoids, as the most common clinical symptom of external hemorrhoids, exhibit significant local pain during acute attacks and are accompanied by a feeling of constriction. If during an acute attack, dark red hemorrhoidal prolapse occurs around the anal area and cannot be absorbed or retracted, a professional doctor can use specialized techniques to crush the local hemorrhoid node or surgically excise it. However, it is not advisable for patients to burst it themselves because if done without proper sterilization and hygiene, it can easily lead to local infection, thereby exacerbating the condition or complicating future surgical treatments. Therefore, if thrombosed external hemorrhoids are detected, it is crucial to seek prompt and active treatment at a hospital.

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Written by Chen Tian Jing
Colorectal Surgery
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How to quickly eliminate the flesh masses of external hemorrhoids?

If a patient has an external hemorrhoid that has enlarged and they want to quickly or completely eliminate it, it is recommended to directly perform surgical removal. External hemorrhoids generally include thrombotic external hemorrhoids, varicose cluster external hemorrhoids, and inflammatory edematous external hemorrhoids. There are also some skin tag-like or connective tissue external hemorrhoids that do not exhibit clinical symptoms, and do not require excessive intervention in treatment. However, during an acute attack of thrombotic or inflammatory edematous external hemorrhoids, due to congestion or increased pressure in the local hemorrhoidal nucleus, severe pain can occur. You can choose to press with dilute salt water to promote the dissipation of edema. Complete removal requires surgical excision to avoid recurrent flare-ups of the condition.