Physiotherapeutic effects of Er:YAG and Nd:YAG lasers in acute hemorrhoids

OBJECTIVE: to evaluate the effectiveness of nonsurgical treatment of thrombosed external hemorrhoids using a non-ablative erbium and neodymium laser. PATIENTS AND METHODS a retrospective study included 14 females with thrombosed external hemorrhoids with severe pain, who was underwent a single procedure of perianal area irradiation with a non-ablative erbium and neodymium laser in PIANO mode. RESULTS: the assessment of pain using a visual analog scale directly after the 15-minute procedure decreased from 8 (7; 10) до 1 (0; 2) points of VAS (р < 0,001). The severity of defecation pain was reduced over a week from 8 (7; 10) до 0 (0; 2) points of VAS (р < 0,001). One week after treatment, no pain occurred. No complications or symptom deterioration developed during the follow-up. No patients showed recurrence for six months follow up. CONCLUSION: a single procedure of combined exposure to a non-ablative erbium and neodymium laser on the perianal area in patients with thrombosed external hemorrhoids effectively alleviates pain syndrome and promotes rapid symptoms regression, thereby avoiding surgical treatment and its associated long postoperative care and risk of complications.