What type of surgery is prescribed for varicose veins?

Conservative treatment methods are only effective in the early stages of varicose veins. And because usually the first signs are ignored, the pathology continues to evolve, reducing the effectiveness of the methods used. With worsening symptoms, the only option to get rid of varicose veins is surgery. Special places are occupied by rehabilitation, which requires patients to adhere to medical recommendations.

Instructions for surgery

If there are varicose veins, surgery is indicated in certain cases.

In particular, surgery is indicated for patients with:

• extensive vascular lesions, which can be determined by visual examination;
• symptoms of edema, persistent pain and heaviness;
• significant risk of thrombophlebitis, trophic boils.

Varicose vein surgery is appropriate when the use of medication does not bring the desired results. It is important not to allow the development of the disease until surgical treatment is useless.

For some patients, surgery for varicose veins on the legs may be contraindicated.

Contraindications

Surgery in the last stage is often inappropriate, therefore, varicose veins are treated with various medications. They help reduce the severity of the disease, but they do not completely eliminate it.

Surgical procedures are prohibited for suffering patients:

• inflammatory skin diseases at the site of venous pathological development (e. g. , eripelas or eczema);
• cardiovascular disorders (coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, heart failure);
• form of acute phlebitis;
• infectious diseases (surgery may be performed after recovery);
• venous thrombosis, pulmonary embolism (in history);
• eliminates atherosclerosis of the ducts in the lower leg

Surgical treatment to remove varicose veins is contraindicated in patients over the age of 70, as well as in pregnant women.

Ready for surgery

A consultation with a phlebologist will help you prepare competently for future surgical treatment. The patient has the right to submit any interesting questions to him related to the operation.

You should also describe the symptoms as accurately as possible, discuss the possibility of intolerance to certain medications and make sure you inform about the medications you are taking.

The attending physician instructs the patient to undergo several diagnostic procedures:

• blood and urine tests;
• fluorography;
• electrocardiography;
• duplex sonography.

The setup level requires compliance with certain conditions:

1. 3 days before surgery, patients must adhere to a slag-free diet, i. e. meat, flour, fried, salty, and meat and flour products are prohibited.
2. Last meal and fluid intake 8 hours before surgery.
3. For at least 3 days, you should forget about alcohol and cigarettes.
4. You need to remove the hair from the legs to handle, using a razor.
5. If you experience abscesses, bruises or cuts on the skin, tell your doctor.

If a patient is driving a car, he or she should arrange with a close person or acquaintance to pick him or her up after leaving the hospital. While driving is prohibited.

Ready for surgery, patients are interested in the type of surgical intervention indicated for them and how much the treatment will cost. If the patient is prescribed venous surgery, many factors influence the price: the stage of the disease, the length of the vessel affected by varicose veins, anesthesia, and so on.

Varicose Vein Removal Method

Because there are many types of surgical treatments for varicose veins, the choice of specific techniques is made based on diagnostic data. In some cases, the venous canal is removed partially or completely, in others - a vein, which is deformed by varicose veins, closed or narrowed with a special material.

Phlebectomy

A type of surgical treatment, in which the area of ​​blood vessels in which varicose veins are present is removed. Once removed, blood movement will be done through the veins located inside.

The operation is performed as follows:

1. After effective anesthesia, the surgeon makes a small incision (up to 5 mm).
2. Veins are removed using a special probe, after which the affected area is re-traced.

Phlebectomy lasts 1-2 hours. After that, small scars are still on the operating site.

Microfleectectomy

Great alternative to previous methods. The essence of this technique is that there is no need to make 5 mm incisions. A small puncture is enough to perform all the necessary manipulations with the vein. Moreover, recovery in this case is much faster, without scars.

All types of surgery performed to get rid of varicose veins of the legs are successful and cause complications in very rare cases.

Thanks to this puncture technique, it is possible to get rid of large varicose veins.

Stripping

This is a type of phlebectomy. With his help, a large saphenous vein was removed. The surgeon pulls the vessel affected by the varicose veins through a small incision, using a special probe. The incision is made on the inside of the groin and ankle.

Stripping occurs:

• partial- only part of the vein is removed;
• total- a sore vein is pulled out along with a small branch.

Doing such manipulations requires maximum care from a doctor. If there is at least one crossless inflow, the risk of relapse increases significantly.

Sclerotherapy

This is an operation to remove progressive varicose veins, which is minimally invasive and does not require incision. The surgeon's action is aimed at narrowing the lumen of the diseased vessel until it disappears completely.

For this, sclerosant is injected into a vein. This drug causes irreversible damage to the vessel wall with subsequent lumen growth.

Specially designed setup is commonly used.

Sclerotherapy has several advantages:

• procedures can be performed on an outpatient basis;
• the patient is allowed to return to daily affairs the next day;
• does not require general anesthesia;
• no scars after surgery.

The negative point is the probability of varicose vein remodeling. The disease can affect the veins located next to the place where the sclerosant is injected. Up to 10 injections are performed in one procedure, and the duration of treatment is about one hour.

Need to specify the type of sclerotherapy:

1. Bubbles.Preparations used, in contact with air, form foam, which fills the vessel cavity. Lumen closure occurs in a short period of time, while a small amount of sclerosant is sufficient. In addition, to get satisfactory results, 1-2 procedures are performed, in which the foam is injected a maximum of 3 times.
2. Microsclerotherapy. This technique is suitable for the early stages of the disease.
3. Echosclerosis.This is prescribed for wounds on the deep veins. Injections are performed using an ultrasound scanner, which allows you to clearly distinguish the sclerosant injection site, determine the amount of medication accurately and avoid unwanted consequences.

Manipulation performed is practically painless, and in turn the patient recovers quickly.

Laser freezing

This method of treating varicose veins, called endovosa laser (endovasal) freezing, involves the use of a special tool - LED laser.

It is injected into the affected vein, and thanks to its radiation, the inner surface of the vessel is soldered. Blood continues to circulate through healthy veins, and the patient's well-being improves.

Advantages of laser freezing:

• lack of scars and age spots on the skin;
• runs out of hospital for 1-2 hours;
• local anesthetics are used;
• manipulation is performed under the control of an ultrasound machine;
• short recovery period.

The final judgment on the success of the operation may be made within 3 months. The use of lasers guarantees complete recovery from the disease without the risk of relapse.

Recovery period after venous removal

After surgery, patients must follow certain rules, which will minimize the risk of complications and speed recovery:

1. It is recommended to wear compression socks. The attending physician will assist with his or her choice. Initially (about 5 days), linen is not removed before bed, and then its use is only allowed during the day.
2. To maintain blood vessels, alcohol and smoking should be banned, as nicotine and alcohol are one of the most common causes of varicose veins.
3. You should refrain from doing excessive physical activity. Even minor injuries to the lower extremities are dangerous. If the patient previously loved sports, it is possible to return to class in 1. 5-2 months.
4. To prevent relapse, water treatment should not be hot. Sauna, steam bath and solarium are contraindicated.
5. There are no cosmetic procedures that can be performed on the affected area.
6. It will be useful to do therapeutic exercises.

To prevent varicose veins from returning after surgery, during the recovery period, you need to take a doctor's prescription that will help the vessel recover. It is undesirable to change the dose of the drug at your own discretion, which is fraught with undesirable consequences. If there are signs of deterioration, it is important to see a phlebologist immediately.

The type of surgery is determined depending on the individual characteristics of the course of the disease.

Possible postoperative complications

No specialist can fully guarantee side effects after surgery. Complications can occur depending on the method of surgical treatment used.

Flebectomy and stripping can be reversed:

• numbness in the lower legs;
• decreased skin sensitivity;
• pain syndrome;
• bleeding;
• hematoma;
• increased area handling.

After sclerotherapy, the following may appear:

• swelling of the ankles and feet;
• pigmentation;
• peeling and itching;
• painful sensation;
• burnt skin.

If a laser LED is used, the formation:

• inflammation;
• darkens skin areas;
• light bruises;
• attracts pain.

The most dangerous complication of any surgical procedure is thrombosis. But its occurrence is observed in rare cases. With minimal invasive surgery, the risk of blood clots is relatively low.

Thanks to surgical treatment, managed to get rid of serious illness. The main thing is to find a qualified specialist and do not ignore medical recommendations regarding the recovery period.