March 31, 2022 Author : Miguel Jorge Silva Proctology diseases - diseases of the rectum, anus and perianal - are a frequent motive for complaints and for seeking medical care. Hemorrhoidal disease, or hemorrhoids, is the more common. Others, such as anal fistulas and pilonidal disease, although less frequent, are also the cause of suffering and discomfort. The most adequate treating method for these diseases is determined individually, in consultation with a general surgeon or a gastroenterologist specialized in proctology . Based on the characteristics of the disease, results of any medical tests that may be necessary and the particularities of each person, the various possibilities are explained, and the advantages and disadvantages of each possible technique are discussed. Together, doctor and patient decide the best option. Advantages of instrumental laser treatment There are several techniques for treating proctology diseases and laser treatment is one of the most recent minimally invasive instrumental treatments available. As a rule, conventional surgical treatment is associated with postoperative pain, temporary physical limitation, temporary incapacity for work and complication rates that can be significant. Minimally invasive laser treatment allows for faster recovery with less pain . It is not indicated in all cases, but when it can be performed, it has advantages over some of the other techniques. It has been shown that the success rate of laser pilonidal disease treatment is not inferior to that of conventional excision surgery and that it has much lower rates of complications and discomfort. In hemorrhoidal disease , the main advantage is less postoperative pain compared to conventional excision surgery (hemorrhoidectomy). In anal fistulas , minimally invasive laser treatment has become an alternative to sphincter-sparing techniques, thus reducing the risk of fecal incontinence that is associated with several of the other techniques used. Meet the general surgery clinical team from Hospital da Luz network. The content published in the Health Guide is intended for the general public and is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It does not replace individual medical assessment, diagnosis, or personalized clinical advice from a qualified healthcare professional. The content is produced or reviewed by physicians and other healthcare professionals at Hospital da Luz and is based on the knowledge available at the time of publication or the most recent update, as indicated at the beginning of each item.
