Haemorrhoid injection

Find out what happens when you need to have a haemorrhoid injection because the haemorrhoids are not bulging through the back passage, but are flat and 'hiding' in the passage. It's better to inject them to stop the bleeding, pain and discharge.

What is it?

Piles (haemorrhoids) mean different things to different people. In medical terms they are the loose lining of the lowest part of the bowel. This lining can push out through the back passage. They are one cause of bleeding, swelling, pain, discharge.

If the piles are obviously bulging out of the back passage, then they are usually removed (an operation called haemorrhoidectomy, which is done under general anaesthetic).

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If the patient is advised not to have a general anaesthetic, or the haemorrhoids are not bulging through the back passage, but are flat and 'hiding' in the passage, it's better to inject them to stop the bleeding, pain and discharge.

If the problem of bleeding or pain from the back passage is not stopped by injecting the haemorrhoids, then the cause may be something else. You will then need different tests and treatment.

The operation

You will not require any anaesthetic. A very simple treatment of the piles is a set of three injections into the lining tissue. This is uncomfortable for a few minutes but soon gets better.

First the surgeon discusses your symptoms and examines your tummy. You will have the operation explained to you and will be asked to fill in an operation consent form.


Then you turn onto your left side so that he can examine your bottom end. He examines the inside of your rectum with a telescope to check that there is nothing there except piles. The telescope is covered with a lot of lubricant gel which makes the procedure uncomfortable, but not painful. Then he examines your piles with a shorter telescope. Through this telescope he make the injections.

The injections consist of a special liquid that triggers the creation of scared tissue in the area of the piles. This is aimed at stopping the bleeding and the other problems related to the piles. It causes some spotting of blood for a day or two but then this passes off.

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You will need to return to the hospital after about six weeks to check your symptoms have gone. If you are still having trouble, the doctors may need to check there is nothing else going on in the bowel and to see if you need more treatment for the piles.

Any alternatives?

If you leave things as they are, your piles are likely to slowly get worse. Nipping off the piles with special rubber bands is an alternative, but it often needs two or three visits to the outpatient department for a course of treatment. Cutting off the piles means a stay in hospital. You do not need this to be done at this stage.

After – at home

You can go back to work straight away from the outpatient clinic. You will be checked in six weeks or so to make sure that the injection has worked.

Possible complications

The piles may bleed again or continue to drop down. Because the area of the piles contains many bugs, the injection can rarely cause an infection (which can potentially turn into an abscess-pool of pus) and that's why you will be given antibiotics to take for four to five days after the injection to prevent this from happening.

Even more rarely the needle used for the injection can accidentally go through the bowel wall. This can potentially be very dangerous and an operation will be needed to fix it.

General advice


Also, all hospitals and surgeons vary a little.


Based on a text by Surgery Door

Last updated

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