Submucosal laser ablation of internal hemorrhoids

Objective To analyze efficacy and safety of submucosal laser ablation of internal hemorrhoids (SLT). Material and methods Systematic review included 10 articles published in electronic databases PubMed, Cochrane Library, Elibrary until January 2019. There were only full-text publications from prospective clinical trials devoted to submucosal laser ablation in the treatment of hemorrhoids. Isolated SLT was used in 4 trials, combination with other minimally invasive procedures was reported in 6 reports. Results SLT was predominantly used in the treatment of hemorrhoids grade 2-3. Efficacy of procedure was 91.1-100% after 6 months and 87.5-100% after 12 months. Intra- and postoperative complications included intraoperative bleeding (8.4%), perianal and external piles edema (8.2%), postoperative bleeding (2.7%), urinary retention (1.2%), anal fistula (0.6%), perianal abscess (0.14%). Conclusion Submucosal laser ablation is quite effective and safe option for treatment of hemorrhoids grade 2-3. However, further researches are required considering the absence of clear recommendations on laser beam parameters, indications for procedure and data on long-term outcomes.