Innovative new device eases the treatment of haemorrhoids
Haemorrhoids are one of the most common medical conditions faced by the general population. Estimates suggest around a third of the population under 50 and up to half of those aged 50 and over suffer from the problem, which causes significant pain and discomfort. Haemorrhoids are a condition characterised by inflamed blood vessels in the rectum and anus. Normally, haemorrhoid cushions – vascular structures in the anal canal – contribute to the control of air and liquid. These cushions become inflamed in those suffering from the condition. “Haemorrhoids are usually caused by the prolapse of the rectum’s mucosa. This can frequently be due to the age of the sufferer and results in problems such as soiling, itching, bleeding and pain,” says Johan Ungerstedt, Consultant Surgeon, CEO of Developeration AB and PexyEazy project coordinator. Treatment varies depending on the severity of the situation. Surgical options are expensive, and can leave patients with post-operative pain, narrowing of the rectum and incontinence. It frequently doesn’t resolve the issue, as relapses are common. Post-surgery recovery times can last up to a month, meaning people cannot go about their normal lives or work. The Horizon 2020-funded PexyEazy project, led by the Swedish medical company Developeration AB, has developed an innovative solution to tackle haemorrhoids in a less painful way. “PexyEazy® enables surgical treatment without the need for anaesthesia, and the procedure time is reduced from 40 to 10 minutes, which lowers the cost by 70 %,” explains Ungerstedt.
The easier way
PexyEazy® is a small, single-use device which works through a well-known and widely tested method called mucopexy. Here, the haemorrhoids are lifted and placed back to their normal position. This leads to reduced swelling, and in turn the symptoms disappear. “Instead of lifting the mucosa above the haemorrhoids by placing running sutures by hand, PexyEazy® semi-automatically positions sutures above the haemorrhoids, which lifts back the haemorrhoids to their normal position,” Ungerstedt says. The treatment takes less than 10 minutes and is carried out by surgeons as an outpatient procedure, meaning no operation theatre time is necessary. The haemorrhoid operations can be carried out without the need for general anaesthetic, making the whole thing cheaper, and require less time of both the patient and medical personnel. The project estimates cost savings can reach up to 70 % per procedure. “The procedure is standardised, easier and faster to perform. People using this procedure find there is less of a learning curve, and it yields better results with fewer complications and less post-operative pain,” adds Ungerstedt. The ease of treatment means that operations are not just faster, but can also be performed at relatively simple medical facilities. This opens up treatment avenues in countries with less well-equipped healthcare systems.
Next steps
The Horizon 2020 grant allowed PexyEazy to establish clinics interested in participating in future investigations, perform a market analysis and commercialisation plan, and establish a production and industrialisation plan. The team are planning a clinical investigation over the next couple of years once the final design is decided on. Entry into the market is expected in 2023.
Keywords
PexyEazy, PexyEazy®, haemorrhoids, pain, treatment, recovery, time, reduced, symptoms