Due to the clinical classification of external hemorrhoids into four types: thrombosed external hemorrhoids, varicose external hemorrhoids, inflammatory external hemorrhoids, and connective tissue external hemorrhoids, the symptoms of different types of external hemorrhoids vary.
What are the symptoms of different types of external hemorrhoids?
1. Thrombosed External Hemorrhoids: These are often caused by straining during bowel movements, hard stools, or severe activities like coughing, which rupture veins at the anal margin. Blood then seeps into the connective tissue, forming a hematoma. This leads to the formation of a raised lump under the skin around the anus that appears suddenly, accompanied by intense pain and a feeling of heaviness. A hard, smooth clot of blood can be felt beneath the skin around the anus, and there may be one or several such lumps. In cases without infection, the condition can heal on its own within 4-5 weeks; however, if infected, it can lead to an abscess around the anus.
2. Varicose External Hemorrhoids: These appear as oval or elongated swellings around the anus, soft to the touch, and usually painless. During straining, a dark purple swelling may be visible around the anal margin, which shrinks after defecation or rest.
3. Inflammatory External Hemorrhoids: These occur due to inflammatory edema in the anal folds, causing pain, swelling, redness, and heat. They are commonly triggered by friction-induced damage to the anus followed by bacterial infection.
4. Connective Tissue External Hemorrhoids: These result from the enlargement of the anal skin folds and proliferation of connective tissue, forming a skin tag. They are often seen after inflammatory external hemorrhoids or due to hard stools causing anal injury, infection, and subsequent inflammation. Even after the inflammation subsides, the folds do not return to their original state, leading to repeated occurrences. Increased anal secretions can also contribute to this type of hemorrhoid. The characteristic feature of this type is the absence of any symptoms under normal circumstances, except for difficulty cleaning after defecation, leading to dampness, itching, and irritation around the anus.
Traditional Treatment Methods for External Hemorrhoids
Traditional treatments involve thrombectomy for thrombosed external hemorrhoids, stripping excision for varicose external hemorrhoids, and simple excision for connective tissue external hemorrhoids. Shanghai An Tai Hospital notes that these methods typically require hospitalization for 20-30 days and involve prolonged periods of pain.
Minimally Invasive HCPT for Effective Treatment of External Hemorrhoids
The HCPT minimally invasive procedure utilizes the principle of heat generation through high-frequency capacitive fields. Through HCPT, the affected area of the external hemorrhoid rapidly undergoes necrosis, desiccation, and shedding. Clinical validation has shown that the HCPT minimally invasive procedure effectively treats various types of external hemorrhoids. Moreover, the HCPT procedure is pain-free, bloodless, quick, and thorough, does not require hospitalization, does not interfere with work, and has an extremely low recurrence rate after treatment.