Varicose Vein Surgery & Procedures

Varicose Vein Surgery & Procedures:
If complications develop or if symptoms of varicose veins become more severe despite home treatment, it may be necessary to medically treat or surgically remove the damaged veins. The course of varicose vein treatment depends on the size and type of vein and the severity of the damage.

Procedures for small varicose veins and spider veins:

Sclerotherapy is a nonsurgical treatment for varicose veins that involves injecting a saline or detergent-like solution into the vein, causing the lining of the vein wall to swell, stick together and ultimately seal shut.

Sclerotherapy:

• May need to be performed multiple times to achieve the desired results
• Minimally invasive, does not require anesthesia and can be performed in a doctor's office.
• Side effects may include mild stinging, bruising, and rashes around the injection site. The vein could become infected, inflamed or lumps of coagulated blood may develop.

The above side effects are not dangerous and can usually be decreased by applying heat, taking aspirin or antibiotics to relieve inflammation or by draining the coagulated blood.

Laser surgery can be used to destroy varicose veins by sending a very strong beam of light onto the vein, making the vein slowly disappear. There are no needles or incisions. Patient discomfort is limited to a small pinch when the laser hits the skin. This can usually be soothed by cooling the skin prior to and after the 15-20 minute procedure.

Side effects are minimal and include some redness and swelling of the skin that disappears within a few days. Patients may also notice some skin discoloration for a week or two after treatment. Most veins require two to five treatments to achieve the desired results.

Treatment for medium-sized and larger varicose veins:

Medium-sized and larger varicose veins can be removed by a procedure called stab avulsion or phlebectomy. Ambulatory phlebectomy is an outpatient procedure using local or general anesthesia. Small stab incisions are made in the skin to allow a tool to be placed through the skin to hook the vein and pull it out through the skin incision. The vein is then pulled until it breaks, causing the varicose vein to be removed in pieces. Common side effects may include pain, bruising, hematoma, and bleeding.

Procedures for large or deep varicose veins.

Vein Ligation and Stripping
Until recently, vein ligation and stripping was the standard for treating larger or perforating varicose veins. These veins are treated by making an incision over the vein and tying off the vein. If the vein is heavily damaged it is usually removed, or stripped. To strip a vein, incisions are made at the groin and calf area, and the vein is grasped and removed.

Most people are able to return to their normal daily and recreational activities within a few weeks. Side effects from vein stripping and ligation surgery may include temporary pain or discomfort, bruising, hematoma, numbness, and less frequently wound infection.

Vein stripping is an invasive procedure and should not be performed on older individuals for whom surgery poses a risk due to other medical conditions. It is also not an appropriate choice for people who have circulatory problems of the legs, skin infections, blood-clotting defects or an abnormal passageway between and artery and vein. Pregnant women are also inappropriate candidates for vein stripping.

VNUS Closure® Procedure
The VNUS Closure® procedure is a minimally invasive treatment alternative to traditional vein stripping surgery for venous reflux, the underlying cause of varicose veins. The VNUS Closure® procedure was cleared for marketing in the US in March 1999. The Closure® procedure by VNUS is becoming increasingly popular as doctors become more familiar with this treatment, over 135,000 VNUS Closure® procedures have been performed to date. The procedure is done by placing a very small tube (catheter) into the vein to deliver radiofrequency energy to the vein wall, causing it to collapse and seal shut. Once the diseased vein is sealed, healthy veins will take over and redirect the blood flow.

The VNUS Closure® procedure is minimally invasive and is usually performed under local anesthesia in a doctor's office. Patients have reported feeling little, if any, pain during the procedure and most return to their normal activity within a day. Some common side effects may include temporary tenderness and numbness. Most patients report a noticeable improvement in their symptoms in 1-2 weeks following the procedure and experience good cosmetic outcomes with little to no scarring.

As the VNUS Closure® procedure becomes more commonly used, more and more insurance companies are covering the costs, when deemed medically necessary.

Learn more about the VNUS Closure® procedure. View the patient brochure (Acrobat PDF File)

Find out if YOU may be eligible. Take the prescreening test - If you are a potential candidate for the Closure® procedure by VNUS , you can receive a list of physicians in your area.

Home Treatment Options
For people with only mild symptoms, home treatment is the recommended course of action. While home treatments are not a cure, they will help to alleviate discomfort and slow the progression of the condition.

Home Treatment

• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Exercise regularly to improve leg strength and circulation. Walking and running are particularly good exercises for preventing varicose veins.
• Elevate your legs when resting to ease the pressure required for the leg veins to return the blood to the heart.
• Wear elastic support stockings

Medications

• There is no drug available for the treatment of varicose veins

*None of the surgical procedures will prevent new varicose veins from developing in alternate veins