“As surgeons we have been searching over the centuries for a perfect procedure to control and treat haemorrhoids.  Haemorrhoids are basically varicose veins in the back passage.  They are meant to be there but over time and with constant wear and tear and increased intra-abdominal pressure they get bigger and cause significant symptoms.

Over the years there have been variety of methods to treat haemorrhoids ranging from injection, banding and excisional surgery. Also Halo procedures with various modifications as in ligation and plication.  The fact that we have so many different methods denotes there has been no perfect procedure invented as yet.  However I am happy to say that finally we seem to have hit on an excellent technique to treat most degrees of haemorrhoids without causing much pain or discomfort.  This is the new Rafaelo technique which is using radiofrequency ablation (microwave) surgery to help the haemorrhoids to shrink significantly.  This technique can be carried out under local anaesthesia or light general anaesthesia which is preferred by the majority of patients.  It is a quick application technique taking on average between 15 minutes to carry it out.  It is done as a day case without much preparation and the patient can walk home a couple of hours later.  So far I have performed approximately 16-20 cases and I am so impressed by the results.  The degree of pain experienced by patients is far less than the pain experienced by simple banding or excisional surgery.  Out of the 16 patients I have done so far there has been 1-2 who complained of pain lasting for a couple of days mainly because the haemorrhoids were too large and involving the anal skin causing the pain.  The feedback I have had by every patient has been so encouraging and supportive that this is one of the best techniques discovered and introduced so far.  I offer it to all my patients now with recurrent and with 2^nd degree up to 4^th degree haemorrhoids without a significant external component (external haemorrhoids are skin tags).  Hopefully within the coming few months I should have a significant number of cases which I can publish and confirm what a fantastic and desirable procedure this is for such a problem which affects almost 80% of people.  In the long-term once I have a good number of patients over the coming couple of years with long-term follow-up I shall be able to publish some more results.  I hope I continue to perform this fantastic procedure for the foreseeable future.  Please let me know if you require any information.”

“I have found the Rafaelo procedure to be a quick, comfortable and efficacious treatment for suitable symptomatic haemorrhoids. Using this new application of well-established radiofrequency technology I have patients who have avoided conventional haemorrhoidectomy surgery. Patients are able to return to normal activities quickly with little or no disruption and minimal or no post-procedure discomfort. I am pleased to be able to add the Rafaelo procedure to the options I have to treat patients with troublesome haemorrhoids”.

“The procedure is quick and easy to perform with effective results. The most important aspect is that patients are pain free and can walk out of hospital to return to work the next day. This is a huge advantage compared to other haemorrhoid treatments available. I now plan to use The Rafaelo Procedure as first line treatment for prolapsing symptomatic piles in the future”

“Having undertaken the first cohort of Rafaelo patients in the West Midlands, I am extremely excited over this revolutionary state of the art technology for the management of haemorrhoids.

‘Piles surgery’ has traditionally been a painful and highly morbid operation. Rafaelo has turned this on its head. The immediate advantage is the ability to avoid a general anaesthetic. This allows the patient to effectively walk in and walk out of the clinic following treatment. My own patients have had very little in the way of discomfort and initial follow up results are very pleasing both from a clinical response to treatment and from patient feedback.

I am receiving enquiries, almost on a daily basis now, for Rafaelo treatments and I am very confident that over time this will become a gold standard technique.”

Mr Patel’s private practice website can be found at www.mramitpatel.co.uk

“I am currently recommending the Rafaelo technique to my patients with haemorrhoids because our experience with this technique so far has been very positive. Patients experience good results with excellent resolution of their symptoms and very little pain or discomfort. So far we have largely treated Grade II haemorrhoids but some with Grade III haemorrhoids have also experienced good results. The biggest advantage for this technique is the lack of post-operative pain. It has always struck me over the 30 years of experience in surgery that although haemorrhoids can be painful and distressing over many years they are not dangerous and the treatment should not be worse than the problem”

“After a very useful period of training in Germany using the Rafaelo procedure and equipment, I felt confident to perform this in my own practice since as Colorectal Surgeons we are all aware of how painful a ‘classical haemorrhoidectomy’ can be for our patients, and Rafaelo provides a fantastic alternative. I have used this now for some of the more ‘challenging’ prolapsing huge piles in patients who have ‘failed’ other types of haemorrhoidal treatments, with excellent initial audited results and patient satisfaction scores overall at 9.5 to 10 out of a maximum 10, and so far no failures of Rafaelo nor dissatisfied patients.”

“I have found the Rafaelo procedure to be a safe and effective alternative surgical treatment for Haemorrhoids using well established radio frequency technology. The majority of my patients undergoing this procedure have experienced minimal post-operative pain, if any at all, and have returned to normal activities much sooner than those who have undergone traditional surgery for haemorrhoids. I will be offering the Rafaelo Procedure as first line treatment to patients requiring surgical intervention for symptomatic haemorrhoids”