Hemorrhoidal Artery Embolization
Hemorrhoidal Artery Embolization
Is Hemorrhoidal Artery Embolization Right for You?
You may be a candidate for HAE. Complete the form below to schedule your consultation.
Please fill out the form below so we can schedule your consultation.
What to Expect: From Consultation to Recovery
Consultation & Evaluation
Our vascular interventional radiologist will review your symptoms, medical history, and imaging to determine if Hemorrhoidal Artery Embolization (HAE) is right for you.
Procedure
On the day of your procedure, a small catheter is gently inserted—usually through the wrist or thigh—and guided to the artery supplying the hemorrhoid. Tiny coils or particles are then delivered to block the blood flow, causing the hemorrhoid to shrink and symptoms to improve.
Recovery
After the procedure, you’ will be monitored briefly and can typically go home the same day. Most patients resume normal activities within a day or two, with gradual relief from symptoms.
Why Choose Hemorrhoidal Artery Embolization?
Minimally invasive and performed in an outpatient setting
HAE requires only a tiny incision—about the size of a nick in your wrist or thigh—and is performed under conscious sedation. No hospital stay is needed, and most patients return home the same day.
Faster Recovery, Less Discomfort
Unlike surgical hemorrhoid removal, which can take several weeks to recover from, HAE delivers relief with significantly less pain and downtime.
Highly Effective Results
With success rates exceeding 90%¹, HAE effectively reduces symptoms like bleeding, pain, and swelling by gently shrinking hemorrhoidal tissue.
Lower Risk of Complications
Because this procedure avoids incisions and direct trauma to the anal region, the chances of infection, incontinence, or other complications are significantly lower compared to traditional surgery.
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Nearly half of all Americans will experience internal hemorrhoids at some point. These are swollen veins in the lower rectum, similar to varicose veins, and are most common in adults between 45 and 65 years of age.
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When conservative treatments aren’t enough, hemorrhoidectomy surgery may be considered. However, recovery can be long and painful, especially since bowel movements continue during healing. Rubber band ligation is a less invasive option, but it can still cause discomfort. Hemorrhoidal artery embolization (HAE) offers a minimally invasive alternative, providing effective relief without the pain and downtime of surgery.
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HAE is a minimally invasive, outpatient procedure that treats internal hemorrhoids through the bloodstream using imaging-guided catheters. There’s no hospital stay, reducing the risk of infection, and no large incisions or stitches—just a tiny puncture in the wrist or upper thigh, similar to a blood draw. General anesthesia is not needed.
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Our physicians use advanced imaging to guide a tiny catheter through the bloodstream to the rectal artery. Once in place, small coils are placed in the artery feeding the hemorrhoid, causing it to shrink and relieving symptoms.
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HAE has a success rate of over 90%, with most patients noticing significant symptom relief within 2–4 weeks.
Hemorrhoidal Artery Embolization Frequently Asked Questions
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About 75% of patients remain free of bleeding for at least a year after HAE. If hemorrhoids return, up to 10% of patients may need a repeat procedure.
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Hemorrhoidal Artery Embolization (HAE) is covered by most insurance plans, including Medicare. Our team can work directly with your insurance provider to confirm your coverage.
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Complications from HAE are uncommon. In rare cases, patients may experience minor bleeding, discomfort, or infection at the catheter site. There is also a small chance (up to 10%) that hemorrhoids may return over time, but if they do, the procedure can be safely repeated.
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If you have grade 1–3 internal hemorrhoids that haven’t improved with conservative care, HAE could offer the relief you’ve been looking for—without surgery.
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HAE may not be suitable for patients with grade 4 prolapsed internal or external hemorrhoids, a history of colorectal surgery, severe inflammatory bowel disease, significant pelvic vascular abnormalities, allergies to contrast dye, or prior pelvic radiation therapy.
For questions or more information about the Vascular Institute at AMI,
visit vi-ami.com or call 866-356-9286.
The information contained on this website is for general information purposes only and is not intended to substitute for professional medical advice. Nothing on this site should be taken as medical advice for any individual case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing does not constitute, a doctor-patient relationship. If you are suffering from a disease or ailment, you should consider seeking the counsel of a knowledgeable, licensed health care professional. Please do not use this site to disregard any medical advice, or delay seeking medical advice, because of something you read or see. We have endeavored to ensure that the information contained in this site is correct; however, we cannot guarantee it's accuracy.1. Sandeep Bagla, MD et al. Outcomes of Hemorrhoidal Artery Embolization from a Multidisciplinary Outpatient Interventional Center. Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology.