CAES for Internal Hemorrhoids and Rectal Prolapse

Recurrence rate defined as the proportion of patients with recurrent hemorrhoids at 24 weeks post-CAES, as derived from patients' self-reported answer. Patients will be considered to have recurrent hemorrhoids when any of the following are recorded: (1) "Unchanged or worse compared with before starting treatment" at 24th week as reported by the patient, or (2) seeking repeat CAES treatment, alternative non-surgical/surgical treatments for internal hemorrhoids within 24weeks (except medication treatment), or (3) presence of any symptoms or events that strongly indicated recurrent hemorrhoids among patients not meeting (1) or (2).

Bleeding, prolapse, and anal pain had resolved or remitted after CAES. Bleeding is divided into three degrees: 1. No bleeding; 2. 2: occasionally; 3: quite often.There are three degrees of prolapse: 1. No prolapse; 2: occasionally; 3: quite often.NRS pain digital rating scale was adopted, that is, 0-10 was used to represent different degrees of pain, 0 was painless, and 10 was severe pain. 0 painless, 1-3 mild pain (pain does not affect sleep), 4-6 moderate pain, 7-9 severe pain (inability to fall asleep or waking up during sleep), 10 severe pain.

Bleeding, prolapse, and anal pain remained the same after CAES. Bleeding is divided into three degrees: 1. No bleeding; 2. 2: occasionally; 3: quite often.There are three degrees of prolapse: 1. No prolapse; 2: occasionally; 3: quite often.NRS pain digital rating scale was adopted, that is, 0-10 was used to represent different degrees of pain, 0 was painless, and 10 was severe pain. 0 painless, 1-3 mild pain (pain does not affect sleep), 4-6 moderate pain, 7-9 severe pain (inability to fall asleep or waking up during sleep), 10 severe pain.

The ED-5Q questionnaire includes five dimensions (mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort, anxiety/depression), with three levels in each dimension (no/moderate/severe problem). Through the Chinese time trade-off (TTO) value table, the health status of five dimensions will be converted into a preference weight of a ED-5Q index score for further analysis.

AEs refer to adverse medical events that occurs during or after CAES, including bleeding, anal pain, having difficulties in passing gas and defecation, infection, ulcer/bleeding in the injection points under endoscopic examination (5-7 days after CAES) and other symptoms.

SAEs include serious complications directly or indirectly related to the CAES, such as death, bleeding, perforation, infection.

The survey on the satisfaction with CAES efficacy, and the willingness to recommend CAES to others.

Symptom severity score: five questions about hemorrhoidal symptoms (anal pain, prolapse, itching, soiling, and blood loss) will be self-assessed by patients by answering how often each symptom was encountered (never, sometimes, weekly, or daily). The score is the sum of the points from all five questions, ranging from 0 to 15 points, where an increase in number is an increase in symptom.