Treating Varicose Veins With Surgery

If suffering from very painful, swollen and unsightly varicose veins which are causing

deterioration in your general health then surgical intervention is likely to be the most effective treatment. It is however only used as a last resort after all other non-surgical treatments have been tried because as with any general anaesthetic there is an associated risk. In general surgical treatment is for the larger veins in the lower limbs.

If only one leg is affected or being treated then it may be possible to go home the same day. Where both legs are treated an overnight stay is possible.

A technique called ligation and stripping is the most common. This procedure involves tying off and then removing the infected vein. The surgeon will make two small cuts, the first being near the groin at the top of the leg and the second either at the knee or ankle depending on your own particular condition. The vein exposed at the top of the leg is then tied off and sealed. The complete process takes about a couple of hours for one leg.

Following surgery the legs will be bruised and painful. In some cases a little bleeding may take place but all these side-effects usually disappear with one or two weeks at most. If there is any scarring it will fade in time but will probably always remain slightly visible. The success rate of this type of treatment is very high and will ensure that you are able to resume your normal daily routine in a very short space of time.

On the face of it removing a large vein should affect your overall circulation. This is not the case though as other veins deeper inside your leg take over the job of returning blood to the heart.

When contemplating surgery take account of recovery time which, depending on your general state of health, may take two or three weeks.

Other treatments

New treatments are being developed all the time. Today it is possible to have radio-frequency abalation. This treatment uses energy from radio frequencies to heat the wall of a varicose vein and is used to treat larger saphenous veins. There is minimal invasion in this technique.

Another option is endovenous laser treatment. This involves an ultrasound scan to guide a catheter through the vein. This treatment carries very little discomfort and will be done during day surgery with no overnight stay required.

A third option is transilluminated powered phlebectomy and involves a couple of incisions being made in the leg. A light is passed through the skin and this will show which veins are varicose and need removing.

It is always wise to try and learn as much as you can about your condition and obtain treatment sooner rather than later. By understanding your conditions and which treatments are available will place you in a more informed position. You will feel more confident about discussing the options available with your doctor or consultant. Ultimately any decisions on treatment will be very much down to your own circumstances, the severity of the conditions and the symptoms you have.

by: Elizabeth L Perkins.

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