What types of operations are prescribed for varicose veins?

Conservative methods of treatment are only effective in the initial stages of varicose veins. And since the first signs are usually ignored, the pathology will continue to develop and reduce the effectiveness of the funds used. With a significant worsening of symptoms, the only option that will remove varicose veins is surgery. A special place is rehabilitation, where patients must adhere to medical recommendations.

Indications for an operation

If varicose veins are present, surgical treatment is indicated in certain cases.

Especially for patients with:

surgery is indicated

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

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

In some patients, surgery for varicose veins in the legs may be contraindicated.

Contraindications

Last-stage surgery is often inappropriate, so varicose veins are treated with various drugs. They contribute to some reduction in the severity of the disease, but they cannot completely eliminate it.

Surgical interventions are prohibited for patients with the following diseases:

• inflammatory skin diseases at the site of the development of venous pathology (for example, erysipelas or eczema);
• cardiovascular diseases (coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, heart failure);
• acute form of phlebitis;
• infectious diseases (surgery is possible after recovery);
• vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism (in history);
• Eradication of atherosclerosis of the vessels of the lower extremities.

Surgical treatment for the elimination of varicose veins is contraindicated in patients over 70, as well as in pregnant women.

Preparation for the operation

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

You should also describe the existing symptoms as precisely as possible, talk about a possible intolerance to certain medications and provide information about the medication currently being taken.

The attending physician instructs the patient to undergo a number of diagnostic procedures:

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

The preparation phase requires compliance with certain conditions:

1. 3 days before the operation, the patient must adhere to a slag-free diet, ie fried, salted, spicy as well as meat and flour products are prohibited.
2. Last meal and fluid intake 8 hours before the operation.
3. You should forget about alcohol and cigarettes for at least 3 days.
4. You need to remove hair from the leg on which the operation will be performed and you should use a razor.
5. If you have abscesses, bruises, or skin lesions, notify your doctor.

If the patient drives a car, he should arrange with someone nearby or a friend to pick him up after he is discharged. While driving is prohibited.

When preparing for the operation, the patient is interested in what type of surgical intervention is indicated for him and how much such treatment costs. When a patient is prescribed vein surgery, many factors influence the price: the stage of the disease, the length of the vessel affected by varicose veins, anesthesia, etc.

Methods for removing varicose veins

Since there are many types of surgical treatment for varicose veins, the choice of a particular method is made based on the diagnostic data. In some cases, the venous vessel is partially or completely removed, in other cases, the veins that have been deformed with varicose veins are sealed or narrowed with a special substance.

Phlebectomy

A type of surgical treatment that involves cutting out the sections of blood vessels that have varicose veins. After removal, the movement of blood is carried out through deep veins.

The operation is carried out as follows:

1. After the anesthesia, the surgeon makes small incisions (up to 5 mm).
2. The vein is removed with a special probe, after which the affected area is resected.

The phlebectomy takes 1-2 hours. A small scar then remains on the operated site.

Microflebectomy

Good alternative to the previous method. The essence of the technique is that no 5mm cuts are required. A small puncture is enough to perform all the necessary manipulations with the vein. In addition, in this case, recovery is much faster without leaving any scars.

All types of operations to remove varicose veins from the legs are successful and, in very rare cases, cause complications.

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

Stripping

This is a type of phlebectomy. With its help, the trunk of the great saphenous vein is removed. The surgeon pulls the vessel affected by varicose veins through a small incision with a special probe. The incisions are made on the inside of the groin and ankle.

Stripping happens:

• partial- only part of the venous vessel is cut out;
• total- The diseased vein is pulled out together with small branches.

The execution of such manipulations requires extreme care on the part of the doctor. With at least one non-crossed inflow, the risk of relapse increases significantly.

Sclerotherapy

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

For this purpose, a sclerosant is injected into a vein. The drug promotes irreversible damage to the vascular walls with subsequent overgrowth of the lumen.

As a rule, specially developed preparations are used.

Sclerotherapy has several advantages:

• the procedure can be carried out on an outpatient basis;
• The patient is allowed to return to everyday life the next day.
• no general anesthesia required;
• no scars after the operation.

A negative point is the likelihood of recovery from varicose veins. The disease can affect the veins next to where the sclerosant was injected. Up to 10 injections are given in one procedure and the treatment lasts approximately one hour.

The following should be said about the types of sclerotherapy:

1. foam.The preparation used forms a foam in contact with air, which fills the cavity of the vessel. The lumen closes in a short time, while a small amount of sclerosant is sufficient. In order to achieve satisfactory results, an additional 1-2 procedures are carried out, during which the foam is injected a maximum of three times.
2. Microsclerotherapy.The technique is suitable in the early stages of the disease.
3. Echosclerosis.It is prescribed for deep vein lesions. Injection is carried out using an ultrasound scanner, which allows you to clearly distinguish the place of injection of the sclerosant, accurately determine the amount of the drug and avoid undesirable consequences.

The manipulations carried out are practically painless, and then the patients recover quickly.

Laser coagulation

This method of treating varicose veins, called endovenous (endovasal) laser coagulation (obliteration), uses a special device - a laser LED.

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

Advantages of laser coagulation:

• lack of scars and age spots on the skin;
• is ​​carried out on an outpatient basis for 1-2 hours;
• local anesthetic is used;
• manipulations are carried out under the control of an ultrasound machine;
• short recovery period.

The final assessment of the success of the operation is possible in 3 months. Using a laser guarantees complete relief from the disease without the risk of relapse.

Rehabilitation phase after vein removal

After the operation, the patient must follow certain rules that minimize the risk of complications and accelerate recovery:

1. Wearing compression stockings is recommended. The attending physician will help with his choice. At first (about 5 days) the laundry is not removed before going to bed and later only used 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 excessive physical exertion. Even minor injuries to the lower extremities are dangerous. If the patient previously enjoyed doing sports, then it is possible to return to class in 1, 5 to 2 months.
4. To avoid relapse, water treatments should not be hot. Sauna, steam bath and solarium are contraindicated.
5. No cosmetic interventions can be performed on the operated areas.
6. Performing therapeutic exercises is helpful.

To prevent varicose veins from returning after surgery, you need to take medication prescribed by a doctor during the rehabilitation period to help the vessels recover. It is undesirable to change the dosage of drugs at your own discretion, which is fraught with undesirable consequences. If signs of deterioration appear, it is important to see a phlebologist immediately.

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

Possible complications after the operation

No specialist can guarantee that there will be no side effects after the operation. Complications can arise depending on the surgical treatment method used.

Phlebectomy and stripping can turn around:

• numbness in the lower legs;
• decreased skin sensitivity;
• pain syndrome;
• bleeding;
• hematomas;
• Suppuration of the operated area.

The following can occur after sclerotherapy:

• swelling of the ankle and foot;
• pigmentation;
• peeling and itching;
• painful sensations;
• Skin burn.

If a laser LED was used, the result:

• inflammation;
• darkening of the skin areas;
• easy bruising;
• drawing pain.

The most dangerous complication of surgical intervention is thrombosis. But its occurrence is observed in rare cases. With minimally invasive operations, the risk of blood clots is quite low.

Thanks to surgical treatment, it is possible to successfully get rid of a serious disease. The main thing is to find a qualified specialist and not to ignore medical recommendations regarding the recovery period.