Hemorrhoidal Artery Embolization

Hemorrhoidal Artery Embolization (HAE)

A Minimally Invasive Alternative to Traditional Hemorrhoid Surgery

For many adults, hemorrhoids can be painful, persistent, and disruptive to daily life. At the Vascular Institute at AMI, we offer Hemorrhoidal Artery Embolization (HAE)—an innovative, non-surgical treatment designed to relieve internal hemorrhoid symptoms with minimal discomfort.

Who Gets Hemorrhoids?

Hemorrhoids are very common—about half of all Americans will experience them at some point in their lives. In many cases, they improve on their own or with simple measures such as dietary changes, topical treatments, medications, or supplements.

However, for some people, hemorrhoids don’t go away and may cause ongoing problems like bleeding, itching, or painful bowel movements. When conservative treatments are not enough, hemorrhoids can sometimes lead to more serious complications, including:

Perianal thrombosis (a painful clot near the anus)
Incarcerated prolapsed hemorrhoids (swollen tissue that cannot be pushed back in)
Anemia from ongoing blood loss
Blood clots
Burst hemorrhoids with significant bleeding
Infection
Skin tags around the anal area

Diagram of the human rectum and anus showing internal hemorrhoid, external hemorrhoid, rectum, anus, and denate line.

What Causes Hemorrhoids?

Many people misunderstand hemorrhoids. They aren’t growths but rather swollen veins in the lower rectum or under the skin around the anus—similar to varicose veins in the legs. Hemorrhoids are most common in adults between the ages of 45 and 65, and they often develop when there’s increased pressure in the rectal area.

Common factors that may contribute include:

Sitting for long periods of time
Straining during bowel movements or heavy exercise
Spinal cord injury
Chronic constipation or diarrhea
Excess weight
Pregnancy or childbirth
Family history of hemorrhoids

The good news: lifestyle changes can help lower your risk. Eating a high-fiber diet, drinking plenty of fluids, and staying physically active all support healthy digestion and may help prevent hemorrhoids.

A man and woman are jogging outdoors in a park with trees in the background, smiling and enjoying their run.

What Are My Hemorrhoid Treatment Options?

For many people, hemorrhoids improve with simple, conservative care. This may include:

A line drawing of an apple and a pear on a plate

Outline of a glue bottle with a curved tip

Dietary changes to add more fiber

A bathtub with steam rising, a towel hanging on the side, and bubbles in the water

Over-the-counter creams or ointments

Icon of a medicine bottle and a capsule pill

Sitz baths (soaking in warm water)

Oral pain relievers such as acetaminophen (Tylenol)

If symptoms don’t improve—or if you experience severe pain, bleeding, or changes in bowel habits or stool appearance—it’s important to talk with your doctor about additional options.

When conservative care fails, hemorrhoidectomy may be recommended. While effective, this surgery carries risks such as infection, bleeding, bladder issues, or rectal prolapse¹ ². Recovery is also significant, often lasting 2–6 weeks.

This less invasive procedure places a small band around the hemorrhoid to cut off its blood supply. While commonly used, it can still be painful and may cause complications, especially for patients on blood thinners or with other medical risks.³

A newer, minimally invasive option, HAE is typically recommended for patients with grade 1–3 internal hemorrhoids who haven’t found relief with conservative treatments. Performed by the vascular interventional radiologists at the Vascular Institute at AMI, HAE offers effective symptom relief with less pain and quicker recovery compared to surgery.

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%⁴, 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.

Is Hemorrhoidal Artery Embolization Right for You?

HAE is an excellent option for patients who:

Have internal hemorrhoids (Grade 1 to 3) that have not improved with conservative approaches.
Are seeking a less invasive alternative.
Want faster relief with minimal interruption to daily life.

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.

A medical illustration showing the male urinary and reproductive system, including the bladder, urethra, and blood vessels, with a magnified inset of the bladder with a catheter inserted.

Talk to Your Doctor About Hemorrhoidal Artery Embolization

Hemorrhoidal Artery Embolization (HAE) is performed on an outpatient basis by the expert physicians at the Vascular Institute at AMI. Our team includes fellowship-trained vascular interventional radiologists as well as vascular surgeons, bringing together more than 100 years of combined experience. We are dedicated to providing advanced, minimally invasive treatments for a wide range of vascular conditions. If your doctor is not familiar with hemorrhoidal artery embolization, we are happy to help provide them with the information they need to make an informed recommendation.

If you think HAE may be right for you, we encourage you to schedule a consultation with our team.

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.

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.
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.
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.
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.
HAE has a success rate of over 90%, with most patients noticing significant symptom relief within 2–4 weeks.