Resolving Superficial Varicose Veins With Ambulatory Phlebectomy
Most types of varicose veins appear in the calves
, though they can occur elsewhere. They twist and bulge above your skin's surface, and appear darkly-colored and swollen. You may experience a mild aching or heaviness in your legs, both of which typically worsen as the day progresses.
There are several ways to treat varicosities in the veins, including chemical-based sclerotherapy, endovenous laser treatment, and vein ligation and stripping. If the problem is relatively mild, your doctor may recommend wearing compression stockings to encourage blood flow. Use of the stockings is usually combined with improved diet, daily exercise, and leg elevation.
An alternative approach is ambulatory phlebectomy. This is the removal of the disease veins. This article will present an introduction to the procedure, including its advantages over other forms of treatment, and a brief description regarding how it is performed.
Is Ambulatory Phlebectomy Preferable Over Other Approaches?
The form of treatment your doctor recommends will depend on several factors, including the severity of the varicosities, intolerance to local or general anesthesia, and your goals. If you merely want to reduce the discomfort associated with mild varicose veins, compression hoses may be sufficient. If you would like to get rid of unsightly twisting and bulging, destroying or removing the diseased veins may be appropriate.
As already mentioned, ambulatory phlebectomy is the removal of your varicose veins. It is done under local anesthesia on an outpatient basis. Because the procedure is minimally invasive, many patients prefer it over vein stripping, which can be painful. There are also fewer complications with ambulatory phlebectomy, a shorter recovery period, and a lower recurrence rate than other approaches during the first few postoperative months.
How The Procedure Is Performed
Your physician will ask you to stand upright so he or she can more easily identify your varicose veins. The affected blood vessels are marked for removal with a special pen. Next, you'll be asked to lie flat, after which your doctor will introduce a local anesthesia to the site of the varicosities.
The anesthesia serves two functions. First, it eliminates sensation in the area of your leg from which the diseased veins will be removed. Second, it constricts capillaries in the area to minimize bleeding during and after the procedure.
Once the anesthesia has taken effect, your doctor will make a series of tiny incisions directly over the diseased veins. He or she will then use an instrument equipped with a small hook on its tip. The tip is inserted through the incisions, and used to grab and remove the swollen and bulging veins.
Because the incisions are so small, stitches are unnecessary following the procedure. Instead, absorption pads are placed on the surface of the skin to soak up any residual fluid. Your leg will then be wrapped with compression bandage to allow for healing.
What To Expect Following Ambulatory Phlebectomy
The recovery period following ambulatory phlebectomy is short. First, you'll need to continue wearing the bandage for forty-eight hours unless your doctor recommends otherwise. Second, it is important that you begin moving around as soon as possible to encourage blood flow in the region from which the veins were removed. This minimizes the risk of clotting.
Barring complications, you should be able to return to your normal activities within forty-eight hours. However, when the compression bandage is removed, your doctor will replace it with a support stocking, which must be worn for at least a week.
Potential Risks Of The Procedure
As with any procedure that involves skin penetration, there is a risk of infection and bleeding. Such risks are minimal with ambulatory phlebectomy because the incisions are small, and there is very little opportunity for mistakes. In fact, the incisions often heal with little to no sign of scar tissue.
If you would like to get rid of unattractive varicose veins, speak with your doctor regarding whether ambulatory phlebectomy is an appropriate solution. In many cases, the cost of the procedure may be partly covered by your insurance.
by: Elizabeth St Johns
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