Infrared (IR) light treatments are used, as well as laser treatment or heat, in attempts to shrink and heal hemorrhoids. Over a three-year period from 1996 to 1999, IR hemorrhoid light treatment (infrared photocoagulation or IRC) was studied in combination with rubber band ligation (RBL) for 358 patients. The study reported by the National Institutes of Health studied 148 women and 210 men with a combined mean age of about 46 years. Each patient averaged 2.3 hemorrhoids for the test period with the following results.
Effectiveness
Effectiveness in the NIH study was considered as the point when the patients studied were no longer in pain, bleeding had stopped and anal itching was no longer active. In order to be considered successful, the hemorrhoids had to be gone as verified in an anal inspection as well as anoscopy.
Results
Results of the NIH study showed a 98 percent success rate after six months. Even at a three-year follow-up, results were still reported as very good with only a 2 percent relapse.
Coagulation
In comparison, laser and heat when used in conjunction with IR light treatments were not as effective, as reported by Mayo Clinic staff. Staff reported few side effects from coagulation with heat, IR light and laser treatments, but the relapse of hemorrhoids was at a higher rate than with the IRC/RBL treatments.
