A randomized trial of photocoagulation or injection sclerotherapy for the treatment of first- and second-degree hemorrhoids

One hundred thirty-five patients with a diagnosis of hemorrhoids were randomized to receive either photocoagulation (P) (N = 73) or injection sclerotherapy with phenol (I) (N = 62). Each patient was assessed at one, four, and 12-month intervals after treatment. At one, four, and 12 months, there was no clinical difference between the groups; at 12 months, however, the proportion of patients who were symptomatically improved or asymptomatic was 59 percent after photocoagulation compared with 50 percent of those treated by injection (P = 73 percent; I = 50 percent). Seven patients treated by photocoagulation required repeated therapy compared with only one after injection (P less than 0.02). Additional therapy was used in eight patients after photocoagulation, as compared with three after injection. The operation rate for each group, however, was similar. There were no complications of therapy. Photocoagulation is an easy, non-invasive, safe method of treatment, giving results that are comparable to treatment by injection sclerotherapy.