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Now the varicose veins can be removed with a short laser treatment and go back to work the next day! And until recently, the only method of getting rid of large varicose veins was surgery, then associated with a long convalescence. Find out what laser varicose veins removal looks like.
Visiblevaricose veinsevery third woman over 45 has every fifth man. They disfigure the legs, but most of all they are a he alth problem. Disorders in blood flow favor the formation of blood clots and dangerous thrombophlebitisphlebitis(it can even result in pulmonary embolism). Varicose veins often lead to inflammation of the subcutaneous tissue and the development of difficult to heal ulcers. The stretched walls of the veins are weak, the skin above them becomes thin and tight, so even a slight trauma can break them. In addition, varicose veins are usually accompanied by "minor" ailments on a daily basis:swelling , numbness and a feeling of heaviness in the legs, cramps and pain in the calves.
Laser varicose veins removal - closing a diseased vein
There are many methods of removing varicose veins, and recently there is one more - the EVLT method. What is it about? Its essence is to exclude a vein from the bloodstream, in which the blood flows back and stays, causing the formation of varicose veins. Therefore, not only the varicose veins themselves are removed, but also the cause of their formation. For this purpose, laser energy is used. The procedure is performed on an outpatient basis. Under the supervision of an ultrasound machine, the doctor punctures the vein, inserts a thin catheter into it, and then inserts an optical fiber into it. It activates the laser and begins to gradually advance the catheter from the vein along with the optical fiber. The laser energy is absorbed by the hemoglobin, which causes thermal damage to the inner surface of the affected vein. As a result, it shrinks and completely closes. Finally, the doctor puts a pressure dressing on the leg - usually it is a special stocking that has to be worn for several days. There are no seams, then take them off.
ImportantHow do varicose veins develop?
The blood flowing towards the heart travels "uphill", which is enabled by its valves - small folds of the inner membrane of the veins. When the valves do not work properly, some of the blood begins to regress: instead of flowing from the superficial veins to the deep and further into the heart, it travelsthe reverse - it flows from deep veins to superficial veins and remains in them. Its pressure on the walls of the veins increases and this weakens them - they eventually expand and distort. The tendency to form varicose veins can be inherited. But the insufficiency of the venous valves is also influenced by the lifestyle (lack of exercise, standing or sitting work, smoking), being overweight, chronic constipation, as well as the use of hormonal agents or hormonal turbulences during pregnancy.
Advantages of laser varicose veins removal
It is impossible to overestimate it, especially when you need to get rid of large varicose veins. Until recently, the method used in such cases was mainly stripping. This is a major operation performed under full anesthesia, in which the ineffective vein in the groin and knee area is incised, ligated and pulled out. It is associated with the risk of complications (e.g. side effects of anesthesia, the formation of extensive hematomas), long convalescence (about 2 weeks), and remaining visible scars. Therefore, endo-venous laser therapy is a great alternative to stripping. The procedure does not require a hospital stay and is not painful: it is performed under local anesthesia (but at the request of a patient who is afraid of venipuncture, general anesthesia can be used). It only takes 30-40 minutes (of which the laser light exposure only takes about 3 minutes). If necessary, the veins in both legs can be closed in one session. After the procedure, the patient is observed for 15 minutes, after which he can return home and the next day to normal activities, avoiding only heavy physical exertion. After about 8 days, the varicose veins disappear without a trace. The risk of complications related to this procedure is negligible. These are temporary skin discolorations and easily treatable superficial phlebitis - complications are likely to occur in 1 in 100 cases. The cost of performing the procedure on one leg with the endo-venous laser method is approx. PLN 2.5 thousand. PLN, it is not refunded by the National He alth Fund.
Who is a good method of laser varicose veins removal
Using the endo-venous technique, you can remove not only large varicose veins, but also spider veins and telangiectasias, and heal varicose ulcers. The use of such therapy is determined by preliminary examinations: Doppler ultrasound (examining the blood flow in the veins using ultrasound) and a surgeon's consultation. In this way, the cause of varicose veins is determined and it is assessed whether the laser treatment is really the best solution. Then a complete blood count and coagulation times are performed (a relative contraindication is coagulation disorders). Experience shows that out of 100 patients presenting for the procedure, 75 patients receive the procedureit can be performed.
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