Clinical Studies
Clinical Outcomes of Second ALTA Therapy for Recurrent Hemorrhoids Compared with First Results
2016 Volume 69 Issue 2 Pages 90-95
Details
2016 Volume 69 Issue 2 Pages 90-95
Background: Little is known about the efficacy of second ALTA therapy for recurrent hemorrhoids.
Patients and Methods: A total of 50 patients who had undergone second ALTA therapy for recurrent hemorrhoids were enrolled. The morbidity and recurrence rate of second ALTA therapy were compared with those of first ALTA.
The group with improved hemorrhoids followed by first ALTA and those without, and the periods until recurrence following the first ALTA, were differentially analyzed.
Results: The morbidity was similar between first and second ALTA. There was no difference of recurrence rate between first and second ALTA (p=0.87). The recurrence of the patients with improved hemorrhoids did not differ from those without. In a subgroup analysis, the early recurrence group followed by first ALTA also relapsed earlier with some carry-over effect, whereas the late recurrence group presented a similar pattern of recurrence as the first result without carry-over effect.
Conclusions: Second ALTA therapy had limited effect on curability, although it had some effect on morbidity. Second ALTA therapy may be a strategy for recurrent hemorrhoids, however, further information about recurrence is needed.
