Varicose Vein

If left untreated, severe varicose veins can lead to chronic swelling, skin color changes, exema type symptoms and finally to ulcerations that will not heal until the veins are taken care of.

Varicose and spider veins are not just a cosmetic problem, but can cause a variety of symptoms including aching, fatigue, heaviness, burning, throbbing, itching, cramping , swelling, as well as ulceration. The causes of varicose veins include heredity, pregnancy, obesity, prolonged standing and hormonal influences.

Varicose veins are those superficial veins that have become enlarged and have lost their ability to effectively transport blood. 90% of all blood volume is carried by the deep system and the normal channels so the varicose veins are not effectively contributing to your overall circulation. If the blood doesn't flow efficiently, the veins become enlarged because they are congested with blood. They appear distended and ropey looking.

Treatment Options

Ambulatory Phlebectomy

This procedure involves removing varicose veins surgically through incisions so small that sutures are not needed, post-op discomfort is minimal and scars are usually not even visible. The concept is quite simple and was developed by a Swiss dermatologist. Varicose veins can be likened to balloons: when they are inflated they are large, but when deflated they are quite thin walled and small. Have you ever noticed what happens to your veins when you lie down and elevate your legs? They empty and collapse, just like balloons. Thus, using a special technique and small instruments, large veins can be removed through tiny incisions.
Ambulatory phlebectomy, as the name suggests, is always an outpatient procedure which can be done in the office under local anesthesia if the extent of the condition is not too great. In severe cases patients are more comfortable asleep. Regardless, they are encouraged to walk one klimeter the next morning and resume normal activities except for strenuous exercise (like aerobics) for a week or two. A firm support stocking is worn during the day for about ten days

Minimally Invasive Vein Stripping

In spite of all the technological advances in vein treatments there are still occasional cases in which the most appropriate treatment is surgical stripping. Fortunately, about ten years ago a brilliant Swiss vascular surgeon named Andreas Oesch developed the PIN stripper. This device allows large veins to be stripped through much smaller incisions and much less traumatically than conventional techniques.

Thread Vein - Leg (Spider Vein)

Spider veins (telangiectasia in medical jargon) are small, thin, unsightly veins that lie close to the surface of the skin and occur either in lines or clusters or sunburst patterns.

They are commonly referred to as "broken veins." Although they occasionally ache, burn or itch they are usually not symptomatic. They are connected to the main venous system but are not an essential part of it. In fact, they serve no useful purpose at all.

Spider veins are not a hazard to one's health and simply constitute cosmetic blemishes. The greatest problems that they pose are to the self-esteem and self-image of those who inherit them.

Sclerotherapy

Sclerotherapy is the oldest treatment method of abnormal veins and remains one of the mainstays of eliminating spider veins and certain varicose veins. A tiny needle is used to inject a gentle solution into the involved vein, causing it to close down and be absorbed by the body. There is little discomfort with the procedure. Elastic compression hose are worn after each treatment. The duration depends upon the size of the vessels and may vary from two days to two weeks. Several treatments are usually required. There are three general types of sclerotherapy in current practice in modern phlebology:

1. Traditional Sclerotherapy
in which an appropriate concentration of an appropriate solution (there are several) is injected into the abnormal vein under direct vision, frequently using magnification.

2. Ultrasound Guided Sclerotherapy
in which larger (and usually deeper) varicose veins or their feeding veins are injected using a duplex scanner to guide the needle.

3. Foam Sclerotherapy
in which the sclerosing solution is actually injected as a foam rather than as a liquid. This is the latest and most modern technique. It is more effective and requires fewer needle sticks than traditional methods. It can be used with both direct injection and ultrasound guided approaches