The Barron method of rubber band ligation is the most common office procedure for the treatment of hemorrhoids. It’s most frequently used on Grades I and II hemorrhoids, but may also be used on Grade III hemorrhoids. As the name suggests, this procedure was developed by Barron and described in a 1963 paper that he wrote. Although another doctor, Blaisdell, was the first to get credit for using rubber bands to treat hemorrhoids in 1958, it was Barron who developed the first instrument to perform the procedure – the Barron ligator. This is why he gets most of the credit. There are recent developments in rubber band ligation, but the Barron method is still the most common, so, for that reason, the Barron method is what I will cover in this article.
The first thing that needs to be done in the banding procedure is that the hemorrhoid needs to be isolated; this is done with a ligator that uses suction to pull the hemorrhoid into the devise. Once the hemorrhoid is sucked into the device, the patient is asked if they are experiencing any pain. If the patient is pain free, then the ligator shoots a small rubber band around the hemorrhoid cutting off its blood flow. However, if the patient does experience pain after the hemorrhoid is sucked into the ligator, then the doctor will try to find a better location for the band. After banding, hemorrhoids will dry up over the course of 7 to 10 days and the bands will simply fall off and leave the body through the stools.
Rubber band ligation allows for treating multiple hemorrhoids in the same session, but some doctors like to spread bandings over several office visits. Having multiple bandings done at the same time does increase the potential for pain and discomfort.
Potential Complications:
- Bleeding
- Sepsis
- Pain
- Dull Ache
- Thrombosed External Hemorrhoids
Success Rate
Rubber band ligation is considered one of the most successful hemroid treatments with a success rate of 70%. Hemorrhoids are a condition prone to reoccur even after treatment, so this makes them difficult to eliminate. The 30% of patients that don’t achieve success with an additional rubber band ligation may require additional banding or even a hemorrhoidectomy to get hemorrhoid relief.
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