A prospective randomised study of local anaesthetic injection after multiple rubber band ligation of haemorrhoids.

One hundred and forty-two patients with second and third degree internal haemorrhoids were randomised to rubber band ligation only (n = 72) or rubber band ligation + local anaesthetic injection (n = 70). Pain was assessed by the patients at intervals of 6 hours and 1, 2, 3 and 4 days after banding. Other symptoms, complications, analgesic requirements and patient satisfaction were also recorded for 10 days following the treatment. There was a significant reduction in pain at 60 minutes and 6 hours after the procedure in the rubber band ligation plus local anaesthetic injection patients compared with the rubber band ligation only group (P < 0.05), but there was no reduction in pain when local anaesthetic was used compared with rubber band ligation only on days 1, 2, 3 and 4 days after ligation. On day 10 after banding, there was no difference between the two groups with respect to symptoms such as nausea, feeling of heaviness and/or tenesmus, fainting; complications, analgesic consumption or overall patient satisfaction. Bupivacaine injection after multiple rubber band ligation may be useful in reducing pain during the first 6 hours of the postbanding period.