title: Endoscopic monopolar coagulation of internal haemorrhoids: a surgeon's experience of the first 100 cases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate one surgeon's initial experience with a novel technique of retroflexed endoscopic coagulation of internal haemorrhoids.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients who presented with symptoms and signs indicating Grade II-III haemorrhoids were counselled before the procedure. Those who were assessed to require an examination of their colon, based on their age and symptoms, underwent a full colonoscopy before treatment of the haemorrhoids. After the procedure, patients were routinely prescribed nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, antibiotics and laxatives.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The first 100 patients of median age 52.0 (20.8-78.5) years included 65 (65%) women. Five (5%) patients suffered from postprocedural complications, of which three (3%) were postprocedural bleeding and two (2%) were postprocedural pain, all treated conservatively. The recurrence rate was 6% at a median follow-up time of 36 (6-76) months. The median duration of follow-up was 36.5 (8.5-57.0) months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This novel technique appears to be safe and effective for the treatment of Grade II-III internal haemorrhoids, and can be incorporated seamlessly into the end of a colonoscopy for the evaluation of haematochezia. Comparative trials should be performed.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Singhealth, Singapore, Singapore.
authors.forename: W-L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Loh
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Singhealth, Singapore, Singapore.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Singhealth, Singapore, Singapore.
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Ngooi
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Singhealth, Singapore, Singapore.
authors.forename: Z K
authors.initials: ZK
authors.lastname: Ong
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Singhealth, Singapore, Singapore.
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Ngoi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003106:Colon / Q000601:surgery; D003113:Colonoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D004564:Electrocoagulation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D006484:Hemorrhoids / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D012007:Rectum / Q000601:surgery; D012008:Recurrence; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Haemorrhoids; endoscopy; retroflexed