Out-patient treatment of haemorrhoids: A randomized clinical trial to compare rubber band ligation with phenol injection

Abstract

A prospective randomized clinical trial comparing rubber band ligation (RBL) with phenol injection in 269 patients with symptomatic haemorrhoids presenting to one surgical clinic over a 6 year period, has been carried out. Questionnaires were completed by 215 patients (106 RBL and 109 injection) with an average follow up of 2.75 years. A successful outcome was achieved in 89 per cent of those receiving RBL compared with 70 per cent for injection (P less than 0.001). All symptoms tended to respond more favourably to RBL, the results achieving statistical significance in patients complaining of bleeding and prolapse (P less than 0.01 and P less than 0.05 respectively). Complications from either technique were minimal. It is concluded that RBL is superior to phenol injection in the out-patient treatment of haemorrhoids.