Catheter-directed hemorrhoidal embolization for rectal bleeding due to hemorrhoids (Goligher grade I-III): prospective outcomes from a Spanish emborrhoid registry.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of catheter-directed hemorrhoidal embolization (CDHE) by microcoil embolization for rectal bleeding due to hemorrhoids classified as Goligher grade I-III. METHODS: Eighty patients (62.5% males) with a mean age of 48 ± 9 years were recruited prospectively. All patients had symptomatic bleeding hemorrhoids. All patients were classified according to Goligher classification: grade I (13.7%), grade II (71.1%), grade III (15%), and no grade IV were recruited in this study. In all cases, microcoils were used to embolize the superior rectal artery(SRA), and microspheres if recurrence of bleeding occurred. Follow-up evaluation (1, 3, 6, and 12 months) included clinical examination and anoscopy. A questionnaire was conducted to determine improvement regarding bleeding, quality of life before, and the degree of patient satisfaction of each participant. RESULTS: Technical success was achieved in 100% of the cases. Fifty-five (68.7%) participants had the absence of rectal bleeding after 12 months of embolization. VAS and QL improved 4 points and 1.5 respectively after embolization. A total of 25/80 (31.3%) had a recurrence in rectal bleeding. Seventeen (21.3%) patients underwent a second embolization, and four patients (5%) were treated with open hemorrhoidectomy. No major complications were observed. Sixteen participants had minor complications. Subjective post-treatment symptom and QL surveys showed significant differences from the baseline survey. Likewise, the degree of satisfaction in the telephone survey at 12 months revealed a high degree of patient satisfaction (8.3±1.1). CONCLUSIONS: The present study demonstrates that CDHE is a feasible, well-tolerated, ambulatory, anal sphincter-sparing procedure for the treatment of internal hemorrhoids. CLINICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: CDHE is a simple procedure, well tolerated and accepted by patients, that preserves the anal sphincter and presents few complications when metal devices or microspheres are used as embolic agents. KEY POINTS: • The technical success rate of CDHE, defined as the closure of all the SRA in their distal segment, was achieved 100% of all patients. However, a second embolization treatment was required since 21.25% of the patients experienced rectal bleeding. • Overall, CDHE's safety profile is acceptable. After the procedure and 1 year of follow-up, no significant complications were observed. • Encouraging clinical outcomes have demonstrated CDHE in individuals with hemorrhoids and mild prolapse Goligher grades I-III with persistent rectal bleeding.

The impact of frailty on intra-hospital survival in older patients with COVID-19 infection: the importance of early identification. SEMI-COVID National Registry.

BACKGROUND: Emerging evidence suggests that frailty may be a significant predictor of poor outcomes in older individuals hospitalized due to COVID-19. This study aims to determine the prognostic value of frailty on intrahospital patient survival. METHODS: This observational, multicenter, nationwide study included patients aged 70 years and older who were hospitalized due to COVID-19 in Spain between March 1 and December 31, 2020. Patient data were obtained from the SEMI-COVID-19 Registry of the Spanish Society of Internal Medicine. Frailty was assessed using the Clinical Frailty Scale. The primary outcome was hospital survival. Cox proportional hazards models were used to assess predictors of survival. RESULTS: A total of 1,878 participants (52% men and 48% women) were included, with 1,351 (71.9%) survivors and 527 (28.1%) non-survivors. The non-survivor group had higher mean age (83.5 vs. 81 years), comorbidities (6.3 vs. 5.3 points on the Charlson index), degree of dependency (26.8% vs. 12.4% severely dependent patients), and frailty (34.5% vs. 14.7% severely frail patients) compared to survivors. However, there were no differences in terms of sex. Our results demonstrate that a moderate-severe degree of frailty is the primary factor independently associated with shorter survival [HR 2.344 (1.437-3.823; p<0.001) for CFS 5-6 and 3.694 (2.155-6.330; p<0.001) for CFS 7-9]. CONCLUSION: Frailty is the main predictor of adverse outcomes in older patients with COVID-19. The utilization of tools such as the Clinical Frailty Scale is crucial for early detection in this population.

Safety and Effectiveness of a New Electrical Detachable Microcoil for Embolization of Hemorrhoidal Disease, November 2020-December 2021: Results of a Prospective Study.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to prospectively evaluate the efficacy and safety of a new, bare platinum, detachable microcoil as a metallic embolization agent in the treatment of hemorrhoidal disease. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This prospective single-center study evaluated a new, bare platinum, electrical, detachable microcoil (Prestige plus coil (Balt Montmorency France)) for use in vascular embolization in patients with hemorrhoidal disease. Between January 2020 and January 2021, 24 embolization procedures were performed in 21 patients (12 males, 9 females; mean age 44.3 ± 7.3). The inclusion criteria were: (a) participants with grade I, II and III hemorrhoidal disease on the Goligher classification; (b) patients older than 18 years of age with a score of greater than 4 on the French bleeding score (FBS) scale; (c) patients with scores greater than 2 on the scale of discomfort proposed by Tradi and Farfallah. (d) patients who underwent treatment that included the use of the new novel coil (Prestige plus coil (Balt)) as an embolic material. The exclusion criteria were participants who failed to provide informed consent and participants diagnosed with rectal bleeding due to other causes (cancer, fissures or others). Participants with severe renal insufficiency, non-correctable coagulation abnormalities and adverse reactions to the contrast medium not correctable with medication were also excluded. The symptoms, technical aspects, the transarterial approach, clinical and technical success complications and short-term outcomes were assessed. RESULTS: Technical success was obtained in 100% of the cases. Seventeen (80.9%) patients experienced improvements in their hemorrhoidal disease. The VAS and QL scores improved by 4 and 1.5 points (81.2% and 87.5%), respectively, after embolization (pV: 0001). Three (14.2%) patients underwent a second embolization due to rebleeding. One patient (4.7%) underwent surgery. No major complications were observed. Three patients had minor complications. The assessment of subjective post-treatment symptoms and QL surveys showed significant differences from the baseline survey. Likewise, the measurement of the degree of satisfaction using a telephone survey at 12 months revealed a high degree of patient satisfaction over 10 points (mean 8.3 ± 1.1). CONCLUSIONS: The present study demonstrates that the use of the new, platinum, detachable, electrical microcoil is safe and well-tolerated in the treatment of hemorrhoidal disease. KEY POINTS: Catheter-directed hemorrhoidal dearterialization (CDHD) is the procedure of embolization with embolic agents for the treatment of internal hemorrhoids. CDHD is a simple and safe procedure that is accepted by patients and preserves the anal sphincter; it presents few complications when metal devices or microspheres are used as embolic agents. As the recommended embolization agent in treatments, the Prestige electrical, detachable coil is a safe, easy-to-use and effective arterial embolic device.