Abstract:Objective To investigate the clinical value of minimally invasive endoscopic treatment for internal hemorrhoids. Methods A total of 1 027 cases of grade Ⅰ to Ⅲ internal hemorrhoids who underwent minimally invasive endoscopic treatment in the Endoscopy Center of Shenzhen Hospital of Southern Medical University From December 2018 to June 2022 were included in the retrospective analysis, including 552 cases of endoscopic sclerotherapy, 404 of endoscopic ligation, and 71 of endoscopic ligation combined with sclerotherapy. The effective rate and recurrence rate were observed in general and different treatment methods. Results The overall effective rate of minimally invasive treatment of internal hemorrhoids under endoscopy was 94.5% (971/1 027). Among the 552 cases treated with endoscopic sclerotherapy, 251 cases (45.5%) were grade Ⅰ, 259 (46.9%) grade Ⅱ and 42 (7.6%) grade Ⅲ. The overall effective rate was 92.9% (513/552), and the effective rates of grade Ⅰ, Ⅱ and Ⅲ hemorrhoids were 94.4% (237/251), 91.9% (238/259) and 90.5% (38/42), respectively. For 404 cases of endoscopic ligation, there were 21 cases (5.2%), 194 cases (48.0%) and 189 cases (46.8%) of internal hemorrhoids in grade Ⅰ, Ⅱ and Ⅲ, respectively. The overall treatment effective rate was 96.0% (388/404), and the effective rates of grade I, Ⅱ and Ⅲ hemorrhoids were 100.0% (21/21), 98.5% (191/194) and 93.1% (176/189), respectively. Fore 71 cases treated with endoscopic ligation combined with sclerosing agent injection, there were 0 cases (0.0%), 13 cases (18.3%) and 58 cases (81.7%) of internal hemorrhoids in grade Ⅰ, Ⅱ and Ⅲ, respectively. The overall treatment effective rate was 98.6% (70/71). The effective rates of grade Ⅱ and Ⅲ hemorrhoids were 100.0% (13/13) and 98.3% (57/58), respectively. The overall recurrence rate of minimally invasive treatment for internal hemorrhoids under endoscopy was 11.2% (109/971) at a follow-up of 3 to 43 months after the first endoscopic treatment. Among 513 patients who were effectively treated with endoscopic sclerotherapy, 74 (14.4%) recurred, and the recurrence rates of grade Ⅰ, Ⅱ and Ⅲ hemorrhoids were 4.6% (11/237), 21.4% (51/238) and 31.6% (12/38), respectively. Among 388 patients with effective endoscopic ligation, 29 cases (7.5%) relapsed, and the recurrence rates of grade Ⅰ, Ⅱ and Ⅲ hemorrhoids were 0.0% (0/21), 5.8% (11/191) and 10.2% (18/176), respectively. Among the 70 patients who were effectively treated with endoscopic ligation combined with sclerotherapy, 6 cases (8.6%) relapsed, and the recurrence rates of grade Ⅱ and Ⅲ hemorrhoids were 7.7% (1/13) and 8.8% (5/57), respectively. Conclusion Endoscopic minimally invasive treatment for internal hemorrhoids has good overall effect and low recurrence rate, with good clinical application value. For grade Ⅰ internal hemorrhoids, endoscopic sclerosing agent injection can guarantee the curative effect, and this method is more commonly used in clinic. For grade Ⅱ hemorrhoids, endoscopic ligation is recommended, with satisfactory efficacy and low recurrence rate. For grade Ⅲ internal hemorrhoids, ligature combined with sclerotherapy injection is recommended to ensure the efficacy and reduce the recurrence rate.