531 - The Bottom Line on Hemorrhoid Artery Embolization Outcomes: A Tertiary Center Experience

Monday, April 13, 2026

12:10 PM - 1:10 PM ET

Poster Presenter(s)

DC

Danielle Cadoret, MD

IR Resident
Corewell Health West, United States

Author/Co-author(s)

MM

Matthew J. Morris, MD

General Surgery Resident
Corewell Health West, United States
MR

Mary Reiber, BS

Medical Student
Michigan State College of Human Medicine, United States
Younes Jahangiri, MD

IR/DR Resident
Corewell Health West Michigan, United States
HL

Hannah Liefeld, MD

General Surgery Resident
Corewell Health West, United States
JO

James Ogilvie Jr, MD

Colorectal Surgery
Corewell Health West, United States
JM

James Morrison, MD

Interventional Radiologist
Advanced Radiology Services, Spectrum Health, United States

Purpose: To assess technical and clinical success and complication rates in patients treated with hemorrhoid artery embolization (HAE) for rectal bleeding, and factors associated with clinical success.

Materials and Methods: A retrospective review was performed on all patients undergoing HAE for rectal bleeding at a single tertiary center between 2020 and 2025 (n=55). Hemorrhoid severity was classified according to Goligher’s criteria. Clinical success was defined as no recurrence of rectal bleeding during the follow-up period. Electronic health records were interrogated for demographics, pre- and post-procedural clinical status and outcomes. Data were summarized as mean±SD. Univariate random effect logistic regression models were used to assess predictors of clinical success considering the effect of repeated observations (embolizations). Stata BE 18.0 was used for all analyses and significance level was set at 0.05.

Results: A total of 69 hemorrhoid artery embolizations were performed in 55 patients. The mean age was 66±15 years and 47% were females. Hemorrhoid severity at presentation was grades 1-4 in 14%, 44%, 37% and 5% of the embolizations, respectively. 61% of the patients were on an anticoagulation regimen and 27% had liver cirrhosis. The mean Charlson comorbidity index was 4.4±2.4. The median follow-up duration was 3 months (range: 1 day - 30.5 months). Technical and clinical success rates were 99% and 52%, respectively; 51% (28 out of 55) achieved clinical success with one HAE procedure. Complications including post-embolization syndrome, failed closure device requiring surgical intervention and self-limited groin swelling were reported in 4/69 procedures (6%). In repeat embolizations, 61% achieved clinical success (8 out of 13). Additional surgical procedures were required in 14% of the patients, most commonly hemorrhoidectomy. On regression analysis, none of the evaluated factors were associated with clinical success.

Conclusion: HAE is a safe option for patients with rectal bleeding due to hemorrhoids, demonstrating a 52% clinical success rate. No factors could be identified to predict clinical success in this study.