Hemorrhoid surgery, or hemorrhoidectomy, is a surgical procedure to remove hemorrhoids. Hemorrhoids occur when an increase of pressure in the veins around the anus and rectum causes them to become swollen and stretched. They may result from a number of factors (e.g., straining during a bowel movement, pregnancy) and affect about half of the people in the Unites States, according to the U.S. National Institutes of Health.

In hemorrhoid surgery, hemorrhoidal tissue and excess tissue around the anal canal is surgically removed (excised). The procedure is typically performed in a hospital or surgery center by a surgeon who specializes in colon and rectum surgeries. An overnight hospital stay is usually required, but in some cases the procedure may be performed on an outpatient basis. Hemorrhoidectomy is highly effective, but recovery is similar to recovery from other surgeries and may be initially painful.

Hemorrhoidectomy is important in the treatment of extensive or severe hemorrhoids. It can be used in the treatment of both internal and external hemorrhoids, as well as those that occur both internally and externally at the same time. It is not generally used for mild- to-moderate hemorrhoids. However, it may be used to treat less severe hemorrhoids if other treatment options (e.g., stool softeners, sitz baths) fail.

Hemorrhoidectomy is also useful in the treatment of patients who have developed certain complications. Persistent bleeding may only be effectively treated with the removal of the hemorrhoids, although less severe bleeding can be treated with other therapies. When blood clots form inside hemorrhoids, the hemorrhoids must usually be removed.

Recovery from hemorrhoidectomy generally takes between two and three weeks. The risk of hemorrhoid recurrence is much lower with hemorrhoidectomy than with other methods of hemorrhoid treatment.

Some patients, including those with certain forms of inflammatory bowel disease (e.g., Crohn’s disease), are not good candidates for hemorrhoid surgery. This is due to an increased risk of irritation and complications.