Purpose: This article reports a case of autonomic dysreflexia associated with hemorrhoidal disease in a patient with high spinal cord lesions and successful treatment by surgical hemorrhoidectomy.
Methods: Following an unsuccessful attempt at conservative treatment which included bulk agents and warm compresses, the patient subsequently underwent three-column, closed surgical hemorrhoidectomy.
Results: The patient was symptom free and had normal bowel activity six weeks postoperatively, and five-year follow-up showed no recurrence of the hemorrhoidal prolapse or dysreflexia.
Conclusion: Carefully controlled hemorrhoidectomy, when conservative measures fail, may be effective in managing autonomic dysreflexia in high spinal cord transection patients when prolapse serves as the stimulus.