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Embarrassing Bodies Live from..., 8:00pm Tuesday 22nd May 2012 on Channel 4. Catch up for free on 4oD »

Video

Voiceover:
Adrian came to see Dr Christian about painful piles.

Dr Christian:
Well, I can see them from here, I’ll tell you that now, so those are definitely haemorrhoids. You haven’t got…

Voiceover:
Dr Christian sent him to colorectal surgeon Mr Tariq Ismail.

Mr Ismail:
We’re going to look at your back passage, and, uh, see what’s, what’s going on there. I think it’s quite clear that he has quite dramatic, large piles, what we call haemorrhoids. And these are prolapsing out. And what we see here is the internal lining of the back passage as cushions to the haemorrhoids, a large external component of haemorrhoids, which is the skin around the anal canal, the back passage. This is important to examine the back passage to make sure there’s no spasm of the muscles in the back passage, and there isn’t a fissure, and making sure there’s nothing else on the inside like a growth or a polyp.

Voiceover:
Mr Ismail uses a device called a proctoscope to examine the anal passage and the lower rectum.

Mr Ismail:
He…his haemorrhoids are clearly large, uh, worse than most people’s, and are eminently suitable for surgical treatment. Once we’ve done the operation, he should be, uh, dramatically better. There should be nothing coming down, his bleeding should all settle, and the soreness and the irritation he’s had should also go away.

Voiceover:
A few weeks later, Adrian is back for his operation. Adrian is having a new procedure called a Halo. Unlike older techniques, it removes piles without cutting.

Mr Ismail:
So what we’re going to do is start the operation by inserting our…device into his back passage.

Voiceover:
Mr Tariq Ismail is one of the few experts in the country who performs the Halo procedure, that uses an ultrasonic probe to locate the arteries that supply blood to the piles.

Mr Ismail:
Switch it on. And some background noise…and as we rotate the uh, device, you can hear the arterial pulsation of the haemorrhoidal artery.

Voiceover:
Having found the artery, the surgeon ties it to stem the flow of blood feeding the haemorrhoid.

Mr Ismail:
So that’s one vessel ligated. We’ll, uh, switch the probe on again, see if we can… Another strong signal there. Reduce the blood supply to the haemorrhoidal area and then treat the prolapse at the same time with a simple stitch to hitch up the loose skin, hopefully we can revolutionise his life. Okay, I think it’s time to take this device out and see how it looks. Um, that big prolapsing haemorrhoid has now pretty well disappeared. I’m quite pleased with that, there’s probably one more to do at the top there, eleven o’clock position. And we’re almost finished.

Voiceover:
Mr Ismail is happy with the progress and tackles the remaining pile.

Mr Ismail:
This is our finished result, and you can see that the prolapse is now gone. Under the circumstances, considering he had large prolapsing haemorrhoids, that’s a very good result.

Voiceover:
Older techniques would require a six week healing time. After this little lot, he could be back to work in as little as 48 hours.

Mr Ismail:
We were able to find um, eight vessels today. A little bit more than normal, but we were able to successfully ligate all these vessels, and then hitch up the prolapse at the end of the operation. So it’s a two-stage repair, but I’m very pleased that it went well, and I’m very hopeful that Adrian’s going to be pleased with the outcome.

Voiceover:
A month later, Adrian is back at the clinic for a checkup with Dr Christian.

Dr Christian:
Hi, how are you, nice to see you again.

Adrian:
Hiya.

Dr Christian:
Go on, have a seat. So, how was the operation?

Adrian:
Well, before the op, I was in a lot, a lot of pain, I wasn’t even sure they were going to be able to operate, you know.

Dr Christian:
And how much bleeding did you experience afterwards?

Adrian:
I had a little bit, but nothing…less than it was before, really, and I think that’s just stitches and everything, so.

Dr Christian:
And so there aren’t any new haemorrhoids appearing since?

Adrian:
I don’t think so, I’ve started putting a bit of cream on, just to keep it under control, but it’s nowhere near what it was.

Dr Christian:
Well, let’s go and have a quick check to see how you look now and make sure you’re healing properly, to start with, and that…well, I’d like to see how it looks, that the haemorrhoids are gone. Come over to the bed with me.

Adrian:
Okay.

Dr Christian:
All right, so you’re not in any pain at the moment?

Adrian:
No, it’s fine.

Dr Christian:
Let’s have a look. Well, that’s a very different-looking bottom indeed. You’ve got absolutely no haemorrhoids at all. One or two tiny little skin tags left over, but otherwise, it’s back to normal.

Adrian:
Yeah.

Dr Christian:
You happy with that?

Adrian:
Yeah, it’s just uh, life-changing, I’m really happy I had the operation.

Dr Christian:
I think that’s a really good result for a, you know, very straightforward operation, really.

Adrian:
Yeah.

Dr Christian:
It’s extremely successful, and you were in pretty much a lot of discomfort before, weren’t you?

Adrian:
Terrible.

Dr Christian:
Yeah, so it’s done. Brilliant. That’s a good result, thank you, you can get yourself dressed.

Read the video transcript

Dr Christian met Adrian who suffered from severe piles or haemorrhoids. After Dr Christian examines the afflicted area he also notes a possible rectum prolapse and sends him to Dr Tariq Ismail who conducts a new procedure called Haemorrhoidal Artery Ligation Operation (Halo). After just two hours there was already a visible improvement and a few weeks later the piles had vanished altogether.

Patient Name: Adrian Hill
Condition: Piles
Specialist: Mt Tariq Ismail, Consultant Colorectal Surgeon
Birmingham Bowel Clinic
Hospital: BMI, The Priory Hospital
Length of Operation: Approx 20 minutes

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Comments and Questions

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Hi,im 19,nd i have a hemeroid its not painful or bleeding its jus feels uncomftble,but i do look at nd thy are pretty big,im scared by it nd worried,i also apply a germoloids cream for 3 days now nd a suppositories for 1 a day nd doesnt seem to be doing much,also the hemeroids do only come out when i poop,im also constapated,please some1 give me advice, ide rather not go to the dr.





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Hi I'm 42, a mother of two and i will be going through with a operation to remove my haemorrhoids, you really need to go to your doctor and make arrangements to have surgery other wise your haemorrhoids will only get worse, I no it's a bit embarrassing but it can happen to anyone regardless of age or sex, so come on be brave all the creams and suppositories are not going to help so bite the bullet an get help now.

Hi,thnx for your comment yes its been a few months now,yes i still have the piles,and thy r the same ive been to the Drs and hes referred me to a specailist,i went nd he had a look,he confirmed i had them,now im waiting for a date to go back and have an enama,thn a camera up half way up my colon to have a better look,thn have a minor surgey,which may be the rubber band,i feel nervous but i want this sorting out as soon as,its causing me to feel depressed nd down nd be able to get on with my life

How long do the stichers last?





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I beleive i have internal piles im currently on Anusol....which doesnt seem to be working. unfortaintly when i pass its like razor blades coming through. I have a condition where I use the toilet 4+ a day so not ideal. Does anyone know what the NHS can do for a situation like this?





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Was Adrian sedated when he had his bottom examined? my piles are not as big as his but are very sore to touch and if i seperate my buttocks. i do not think i would be able to have a finger or scope put in with the pain. is it possible to be sedated for the examination?





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THD is the same as Halo procedure. I'm booked in at Mr Ismail's clinic for the Halo. This is not available in Birmingham at the moment on the NHS. It'll be worth every penny to be rid of this problem & have my life back.





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im a 26 year women,and im suffering from piles...its not big,but im not feeling comfortable,sometimes bleeding and pain...can u tell me which treatment is more helpfull for haemorrhoids?cheers





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does the pile comes back after a while?





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i had a ligation haemarredectomy (excuse spelling)2 weeks ago, i was booked in for a stapled procedure but my surgeon was not there to perform.immensly painful even now.Passing motions it like passing razor blades.Blood flow is reducing slightly.No way would i considor returning to normal life as i spend most of time laying flat out to reduce the pain a little.Only sat at pc in hope someone could offer advice in regards to pain relief





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ive got piles and i am Really scared to get them Removed i went the hospital once and they Stuck the camera thing up me but it was Really Really uncomfortable i want them Removed and it Really hurts when i Go the toilet and want them Removed ASAP!





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Could anyone tell me if either of the above treatments are available on the N.H.S. My wife was told she would miss at least 6/8 weeks work, and she would be in a lot of pain for much of this time if she had had the operation she was down for. many thanks.





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It looks like no one else has asked this question, so please fill in the rest of your details below.





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