title: Rubber band ligation of hemorrhoids: relapse as a function of time.
abstract: Rubber band ligation is a well established treatment of internal second-degree hemorrhoids. Up to now, the long-term results (> 5 years) of this method have not been assessed. The aim of this study was to determine the long-term success rate of rubber band ligation in patients with a first episode of second-degree hemorrhoids not responding to medical treatment (local cream with laxative). A total of 92 patients who were treated between 1979 and 1997 for second-degree hemorrhoids responded to a questionnaire. The need for complementary conservative (sclerotherapy, cryotherapy or rubber band ligation) or surgical treatment was considered indicative of relapse. The collected data were analyzed according to the Kaplan-Meier method. The average follow-up time was 5.6 years. There were 21 patients who suffered a relapse. The probability of successful treatment was 0.77 (range: 0.67-0.88) after 5 years and 0.68 (range: 0.5-0.86) after 10.6 years. We conclude that rubber band ligation represent an efficient long-term treatment for second-degree hemorrhoids. Approximately two thirds of the patients are cured after 5 years and more than a half after 10 years.
authors.affiliation: Policlinique de Chirurgie, Hôpital Cantonal Universitaire de Genéve, Switzerland.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Savioz
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Roche
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Glauser
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dobrinov
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ludwig
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Marti
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006484:Hemorrhoids / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008026:Ligation / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome