Historical aspects of a frequent anal disease: haemorrhoids
Vieni, S.; Latteri, F.; Grassi, N.
Chirurgia Italiana 56(5): 745-748
2004
ISSN/ISBN: 0009-4773 PMID: 15553451 Document Number: 580342
In this report the authors outline the main historical aspects of haemorrhoids after a thorough review of the literature. The first texts concerning haemorrhoids are the ancient Egyptian papyruses. The twenty centuries of the history of haemorrhoids are marked by multiple pathogenetic theories, and of these the vascular and the sliding of the anal mucosa are still valid. From an analysis of the historical texts and the most recent publications, we deduce that the principles of therapy are substantially unchanged since the days of Hippocrates. In conclusion, we can say that, as in ancient times, the therapy of haemorrhoids is based on three fundamental approaches: surgical treatment, ambulatorial non-surgical treatment and medical treatment.