(hĕm′ō-royd)
[Pronunciation]
[Gr. haimorrhois]

Veins of the internal or external hemorrhoidal plexuses and the immediately surrounding tissues.
Hemorrhoids are most often referred to only when diseased (i.e., enlarged, painful, bleeding). Other anorectal conditions (e.g., anal fissure, condylomata, anal cancers) may produce similar symptoms and must be distinguished from hemorrhoids by appropriate examination.
SYN: piles

Figure: HEMORRHOIDS




See: Nursing Diagnoses Appendix

TREATMENT
Therapy depends on the severity of the symptoms, not the extent of the hemorrhoids. In many instances, the only therapy required is improvement in anal care, adherence to appropriate fluid intake and diet if necessary, and administration of stool softeners to prevent straining to have a bowel movement. Measures to reduce local pain and congestion include the temporary use of local anesthetic agents, lubrication, cold compresses, warm sitz baths, and thermal packs. The necessity of surgery or other modalities of direct intervention (e.g., latex band ligation, sclerotherapy, cryosurgery, infrared photocoagulation, laser surgery) need not be applied until the acute process resolves except in cases of significant bleeding, intractable pain, recurrent episodes, and various individualized considerations.
See: hemorrhoidectomy

Subentries:
external hemorrhoid
internal hemorrhoid
mixed (or combined) hemorrhoid
prolapsed hemorrhoid
strangulated hemorrhoid