A 32-year-old man presented to the emergency department with severe anal pain. Yesterday morning, he had to strain quite forcefully to pass hard, pellet-like stools. Since then he has had persistent and worsening swelling of the tissues in the anal area, which did not resolve with sitz bath. The pain has become severe, and he is unable to rest comfortably in any position. He has normal vital signs, and physical examination is normal except that he has minimally engorged internal hemorrhoids without necrosis, and the external portion in left lateral quadrant is swollen, purple, and is 2 cm in size. The skin is intact and there is no cellulitis. The best option for the patient is
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