title: Maintenance bran therapy for prevention of symptoms after rubber band ligation of third-degree haemorrhoids.
abstract: Proctoscopically diagnosed third-degree haemorrhoids were treated with rubber band ligation (RBL) in 92 patients, who were randomly assigned to management with or without twice-daily intake of unprocessed bran for 18 months. RBL was performed maximally five times at 2-week intervals. Patients who were symptom-free 10 weeks after first banding were considered cured and were enrolled in a follow-up study. The two treatment groups did not differ in regard to clinical or proctoscopic characteristics. The number of RBL required for cure was lower in the bran-treated group (p less than 0.01). The intergroup difference in cure rate 10 weeks after the first treatment was not significant (85% v. 91%). During the follow-up period symptoms recurred in 45% of the RBL group, but in only 15% of the RBL + bran group (p less than 0.01). A high-fiber diet thus increased the long-term cure rate among patients with third-degree haemorrhoids initially cured by RBL.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Gastroenterology C, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Harling
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tange
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Shokouh-Amiri
authors.forename: O V
authors.initials: OV
authors.lastname: Nielsen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006484:Hemorrhoids / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008026:Ligation / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence