A comparison of the simultaneous application of sclerotherapy and rubber band ligation, with sclerotherapy and rubber band ligation applied separately, for the treatment of haemorrhoids: a prospective randomized trial

Abstract Objective To compare simultaneous application of sclerotherapy and rubber band ligation, with sclerotherapy and rubber band ligation applied separately for the treatment of 2nd degree haemorrhoids. Patients and methods Between 1993 and 1996, 255 patients that suffered from 2nd degree haemorrhoids were divided into 3 groups of 85 patients, each to receive either simultaneous sclerotherapy for smaller and rubber band ligation for larger piles (SCL/RBL) in one session, or sclerotherapy (SCL), or rubber band ligation (RBL), respectively. After a period of 4 years all patients were examined and their symptoms were recorded. Results The patients of the SCL group developed significantly fewer complications after treatment compared to the other two methods ( P < 0.001), which did not differ from each other. After the SCL/RBL treatment, significantly more patients were symptom free (46%) than after SCL (8%), P < 0.001. There was no significant difference between the SCL/RBL (46%) and the RBL (31%) groups ( P = 0.217), although the combined treatment seemed to be more effective than rubber band ligation. Only 10% of the patients of the SCL/RBL group needed additional sessions 6–24 months after the initial treatment compared to 30% of the patients of the SCL group ( P = 0.001). However, there was no significant difference between SCL/RBL and RBL (17%) groups ( P = 0.151). Conclusion The combination of sclerotherapy and rubber band ligation for treatment of 2nd degree haemorrhoids is significantly more efficient than sclerotherapy on its own.