Efficacy and safety of office-based procedures for hemorrhoidal disease in patients with inflammatory bowel disease
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Hemorrhoidal disease (HD) affects 2-20% of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) but treatment recommendations are scarce due to fear of higher morbidity in these patients. Currently, there is almost no data regarding nonsurgical treatment for HD in patients with IBD. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of office-based procedures for HD in patients with IBD. METHODS: A Portuguese multicenter retrospective study of patients with IBD undergoing office-based treatment for HD between July 2013 and December 2021 was performed. Data regarding the patients' IBD (type, disease location, medication, endoscopic remission) and HD (clinical success, recurrence, complications) were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 129 patients were included, 90 with ulcerative colitis and 37 with Crohn's disease. Only 55% of patients presented endoscopic remission and 18% were under biologics. Additionally, 77 patients underwent rubber band ligation (RBL), 44 underwent polidocanol injection, and 8 had both treatments, for a total of 304 procedures. The treatment of HD was effective in 88% of patients, of which 16% relapsed (mean follow-up time of 55.3 +/- 34.5 months). Complications were described in 17 (5.6%) procedures, 2 (0.66%) requiring invasive treatment. There were no cases of suppuration, stenosis, or anal incontinence. Success, relapse, and complications were not associated with IBD features. Clinical success and recurrence were similar between RBL and polidocanol foam sclerotherapy (PFS). RBL had more complications than PFS (15.6% versus 2.6%). CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first to focus exclusively on office-based procedures for hemorrhoidal disease in patients with IBD, demonstrating similar efficacy to the general population and a low complication rate.