ABSTRACT

The scope of out-patient treatment of haemorrhoids has been increased since the introduction by Barron in 1963¹ of rubber band ligation. This combined with conventional sclerotherapy can greatly reduce the number of hospital admissions for an extremely common condition.

In May 1979 a ‘Rectal Clinic’ was established at the Royal Naval Hospital Haslar, primarily for the treatment of haemorrhoids but also to allow a rapid referral service in the hope of detecting large bowel cancer at an earlier stage. During a one year period over 100 patients have been referred for treatment of haemorrhoids, of whom 66 have completed their course of therapy. A retrospective survey of 60 in-patients with haemorrhoids admitted over a similar period in the previous year was made for comparison. Only six patients have required operation since the clinic commenced.

Out-patient treatment has been found to give a better rate of symptomatic relief and resulted in a much shorter time away from work, without the considerable cost of hospitalisation. It is therefore recommended that such procedures should be more widely used in hospital practice.