A flexible silicone patch for treatment of hemorrhoids after birth: a pilot study of HEMOCIN® Patch

PURPOSE: To test a non-pharmacological silicone patch for treatment of symptomatic hemorrhoids with focus on usability, safety, and self-reported short-term effect.

METHODS: Puerperal women in a Danish maternity ward were cluster randomized to treatment with the HEMOCIN® patch (intervention) or no systematic treatment (control group). On inclusion and after 2 weeks, they completed a questionnaire regarding history and hemorrhoid symptoms scored from 0 to 10. Women in the intervention group also reported on the usability of the patch and any side effects.

RESULTS: We included 31 women in the intervention group and 33 in the control group. Twenty-eight (90.3%) women in the intervention group and 27 (81.8%) women in the control group responded to follow-up. Except from a difference in the severity of swelling at inclusion, there were no differences between the two groups for any symptoms, neither at inclusion, nor at follow-up, or in the change of symptoms during the two weeks (p > 0.05). Twenty-three women (85.2%) in the control group used medical treatment vs. one woman in the intervention group. The patch was used on an average of 9.3 days, 15.5 h/day and for 7.1 h before changing the patch. No severe side effects were reported.

CONCLUSION: This pilot study finds that the HEMOCIN® patch is a safe and feasible treatment option for hemorrhoids. However, we did not detect any significant effect on hemorrhoid symptoms. The patch could be an option for people who seek non-pharmacological treatment for symptomatic hemorrhoids or need long-term treatment without steroid side effects.