Asian Journal of Research and Reports in Gastroenterology

Background: Rubber band ligation is widely practiced for treatment of haemorrhoidal disease.

Aims: To study the early and long-term outcome of rubber band ligation for grades I-III haemorrhoids.

Study Design: A prospective cohort study.

Place and Duration of Study: Oak Endoscopy Centre (Digestive Disease Unit) Port Harcourt, Rivers State Nigeria between June 2017, and October 2020.l

Methodology: We included one hundred and thirteen cases of rubber band ligations in 41 patients (32 males and 9 female; 24-75 years), with haemorrhoids of varying grades. The variables studied were sociodemographic, presenting complaints, anti-platelet/ anti-clotting drug history, sites of haemorrhoids, sessions of haemorrhoidal rubber band ligation, early and long-term outcome. Statistical analysis was done using IBM SPSS version 20.

Results: The mean age of study patients was  51.3 ± 13.0 years and there were 9(22.0%) patients with grade I haemorrhoids, 17 (41.4%) grade II, and 15 (36.6%) gade III. The most common site was 7 clock-dial position- 29(25.7%). There was complete resolution of symptoms in 90.2%, 81.8% and 80.8% of patients after 1-month, 6-month, and 1-year follow-up, respectively. No significant difference in resolution rate of haemorrhoids following rubber band ligation was observed with respect to the grades (P = 0.769).

Conclusion: Rubber band ligation is effective for the treatment of grades I-III haemorrhoids with a low but significant recurrence rate in study population at 1-year follow-up.