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The most common cause of rectal bleeding
is symptomatic hemorrhoids. Often the offending hemorrhoid(s) are
normal in size and do not require treatment beyond increasing the
fiber in a persons diet. However, if treatment is required,
infrared phototcoagulation may be a good option. It involves
inserting a small lighted tube into the rectum and isolating one
of the three hemorrhoids. Three to four quick pulses of infrared
light are then applied to the upper end of each hemorrhoid. This
cauterizes the blood vessels feeding the hemorrhoid, which in turn
causes then hemorrhoid to shrink and stop bleeding. At the time
of the cautery there is a slight sting. This procedure can be
done at the time of a
colonoscopy
or flexible sigmoidoscopy,
but it is often done in an office visit after one enema is given.
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