World Piles Day: Early detection and evidence-based care is a public health imperative

To mark World Piles Day on 20th November 2015, a free camp was held in C-block crossing Indira Nagar where Professor (Dr) Rama Kant led a team of experts to provide free consultation, examination and some medications to patients of piles, fissure and fistula. Former head of surgery department of KGMU Prof Rama Kant said: “Early diagnosis of piles and other ano-rectal problems, and provision of standardized and evidence-based management and care is a public health imperative. Due to stigma and shame related to ano-rectal problems, patients often delay seeking care, which not only aggravates the problem but also puts them at heightened risk of developing other complications.”

Stigma related to piles can be ended with correct awareness and provision of standard care. Prof Rama Kant will also deliver World Piles Day Oration today evening for public and private sector doctors so that piles and other ano-rectal problems can be diagnosed early and evidence-based care be provided in a timely manner.

Prof Rama Kant said that it is estimated over 50% of our population had at least one incidence of piles in their lives. Incidence of piles over the age of 70 shoots up beyond 85%, which is indeed alarming. “Every surgeon or physician has her or his own way of addressing this problem. This absence of standards in piles care must get attention" said Prof Rama Kant.

WHO Director-General Awardee Prof Rama Kant added that "Piles are very common in both males and females. Chronic constipation, recurrent diarrhoea, obesity, sedentary lifestyle, straining at stools for prolonged periods, lack of exercise, etc are some common precipitating factors for piles. Piles often co-exist with other ano-rectal problems including ano-rectal cancers.”

There are a range of evidence-based treatment options available from non-operative to surgical procedures. Modern and new techniques like those of DGHAL and RAR and LASER treatment are also providing good treatment outcomes.

"We have been using a unique non-surgical technique for the management of Piles like Doppler-guided haemorrhoidal artery ligation (DGHAL) and Recto-Anal Repair (RAR). All patients except those with acute thrombosed piles, can be considered for DGHAL and RAR" shared Prof Rama Kant.

Author of "Piles To Smiles" book, Prof Rama Kant has managed almost 3,500 patients of piles using DGHAL and RAR techniques. "After DGHAL and RAR, meantime to return to work was found to be 2.8 days. 1038 patients have undergone DGHAL at our centre, and 2320 RAR. Doppler treatment not only assumes therapeutic significance but it also becomes genuine prophylaxis against the more advanced stages of illnesses."

We must adopt healthier lifestyles for multiple health and wellness benefits. This includes avoiding constipation, not sitting too long, exercising regularly, changing diets for more fibre intake, fruits, and drinking plenty of water, among others.

CNS (Citizen News Service)
20 November 2015