Clinical Research Directory

Radiofrequency Ablation vs Doppler-guided Haemorrhoidal Artery Ligation in the Treatment of Haemorrhoidal Disease

Surgical treatment of grade II/III internal haemorrhoidal disease is indicated in the case of medical and/or instrumental treatment failure. Minimal invasive alternatives to haemorrhoidectomy have been introduced in the last decades to treat grade II/III haemorrhoids. Doppler-Guided haemorrhoidal artery ligation (DGHAL) represents a good therapeutic option in this condition with good short and mid-term outcomes but postoperative recurrence rates up to 35% at 5 years. Recently, a technique of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has been introduced with promising outcomes. A recent systematic review reported a significant improvement of preoperative symptoms and a recurrence rate \< 5%. To date, there is no study comparing DGHAL to RFA in the treatment of grade II/III haemorrhoids. The aim of this study is to demonstrate the non-inferiority in terms of failure rate of haemorrhoidal radiofrequency ablation compared to Doppler-guided haemorrhoidal artery ligation, associated with mucopexy, in the treatment of grade II and III haemorrhoidal disease