Direct current electrotherapy of internal hemorrhoids: an effective, safe, and painless outpatient approach.

Hemorrhoid disease is one of the most frequently occurring, disabling conditions of man. We report the results of 120 patients with symptomatic internal and mixed hemorrhoid disease treated with direct current (d.c.) via a dual-tipped disposable needle probe (negative electrode). Evaluation and treatment utilized an operative anoscope which visualized one-eighth of the anal canal. Five hundred ninety segments revealed hemorrhoid disease (grade 1 = 114, 2 = 222, 3 = 178, 4 = 76). One or more segments (highest grade) were treated per office visit. Symptoms, frequency, and mean number of treatment applications per patient for complete symptom resolution were: bleeding, 85%, 4.0; protrusion, 58%, 3.9; pain, 52%, 3.6; and pruritus, 49%, 3.9. Ablation of hemorrhoid disease grade was directly correlated with milliampere current and time of application. No major complications occurred. All patients were successfully treated and remained symptom-free at a mean duration of follow-up of 23 months. Direct current electrotherapy is an effective, painless, and safe outpatient treatment approach to all grades of internal and mixed hemorrhoid disease.