Treatment for Varicose Veins

Endovenous Laser Therapy is a method of treatment for varicose veins. Varicose veins, is a condition associated with abnormal dilated blood vessels, is caused by the weakening of the vessel wall. The vessels appear swollen with twisted clusters of blue or purple veins. At times they may also be surrounded by red, thin capillaries referred to as spider veins. Such veins develop near the surface of the skin and can appear anywhere on the body but are most common on the legs and pelvic area. Other symptoms experienced also include leg swelling, leg ulcers, muscle cramps, soreness and aching in the legs.

In Endovenous Laser Treatment, an optical fiber into the vein to be treated and an infrared laser light is shone into the interior of the vein. However, complications may occur during treatment using this method. Such complications can be categorized as major and minor the minor ones including haematoma, bruising, temporary numbness, induration, phlebitis and a sensation of tightness. Serious complications that are very rare include skin burns, deep venous thrombosis, nerve injury and pulmonary embolism. Retinal damage may occur but this is quite a rare occurrence.

During Endovenous Laser Treatment, a catheter containing the laser fiber is inserted into the saphenous (Great saphenous and small saphenous) vein through a small puncture. It is then advanced with the guidance of an ultrasound to the groin or knee crease level. A dilute local anesthesia is administered around and along the vein. The laser is then activated as the laser fiber is withdrawn slowly causing the obliteration of the saphenous vein along its entire length. Sclerotherapy involves medicine being injected into the formations thus making them shrink. Ambulatory phlebectomy involves the removal of the varicose veins through small incisions of about two to three millimeters in the skin overlying the veins. Ambulatory phlebectomy is often done at the time of the procedure of even within the first one to two weeks to treat branch varicose veins.

This procedure is done within one to two hours and a patient can become fully recovered in three weeks times. The leg is bandaged and placed in a stocking that a patient wears for up to 3 weeks. This is meant to prevent them from re-infection. There are some doctors who do not perform these procedures at the time of Endovenous Laser Treatment as the varicose veins can improve on their own as a result of reduced reflux from the saphenous vein. Due to the risks related to this procedure, a patient should seek professional help as repercussions may be high and costly. The procedure is expensive but many hospitals are making it available at low costs for the needy. Apart for varicose veins there are many other diseases associated with the clogging of veins and some are even fatal. Such diseases include Aneurysms which have proven very dangerous. They include cerebral aneurysms, cranial aneurysms, aortic and peripheral aneurysms. Buerger’s disease is also a vascular disease that is recurrent and causes ulceration and gangrene in the extremities and at times lead to the need for amputation.

Judah is the author of this article on Leg swelling. Find more information, about Peripheral arterial disease here.