LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

To the Editor—Suffering from internal thromboid hemorrhoids that had progressed to the third degree, I sought medical advice for this condition in 1997 and 2002. In both cases, a hemorrhoidectomy was recommended. Reluctant to undergo the pain, cost, and disruption of a hemorrhoidectomy, I researched alternative therapies. This led me to the UCLA Gastroenterology Clinic and Dr. Dennis Jensen. Dr. Jensen had been part of a team that had conducted a number of studies that evaluated the safety and efficacy of direct current (DC) probe treatment of chronic anal fissures associated with internal hemorrhoids and analyzed the effectiveness of this procedure vs. traditional hemorrhoidectomy. Dr. Jensen referred me to the office of Dr. Daniel Norman of South Lake Tahoe, California. Dr. Norman’s treatment involving direct current electrotherapy produced complete relief of my condition in a series of painless office visits. This experience has made me wonder how many hemorrhoidectomies are performed every year in this country and how many of these are really necessary. “The Practice Parameters for the Treatment of Hemorrhoids” as prepared by The American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons is dated April 1993. Its discussion of electrotherapy techniques under the heading “Bipolar Diathermy Coagulation” is perfunctory and gives no substantive information about the technique. Its statement that “significant clinical data are not yet available” is no longer true. Good clinical research has now been completed on both the direct current and bipolar electrocoagulation treatment methods. It would be valuable to the public and colorectal surgeons for these studies to be recognized and disseminated by The American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons through its Journal. REFERENCES