How are varicose veins removed?
There are several easy-to-use options available as therapy for removing varicose veins. In general, a distinction is made between the different ways of treating varicose veins. Which method has the best effect on the individual patient depends on various factors.
Both the extent and the cause of the varicose veins play a decisive role.
- Conservative/physical
- Drug eyes and
- Surgical
If possible you should move a lot in any case. Running/jogging, cycling and swimming are particularly suitable, as the muscle pump of the calf muscles is specially activated. As described in the topic varicose veins, the so-called muscle pump facilitates and supports the return transport of blood to the heart. Compression stockings to remove the varicose veins or wrapping the legs with elastic bandages to reduce the diameter of the vessel accelerate the venous return flow.
Removing varicose veins by surgical measures
Although physical and medicinal measures can help to alleviate the symptoms of venous disorders, surgical (invasive) therapy is the only way to effectively remove varicose veins. In this case, the insufficient perforating veins, which connect the surface with the depth, are blocked or severed. Varicose veins can only be completely removed under certain conditions.
For example, the treatment of the area must be guaranteed even after the removal. This becomes more difficult the more advanced the stage is. There are various surgical procedures that can be used depending on the extent of the disease. Probably the most frequently performed surgical procedures to remove varicose veins are
- Stripping (pulling varicose veins)
- The desertification
- The CHIVA Method
- The external valvuloplasty
- The laser therapy
What new methods are there?
The oldest and most proven method of vein removal is vein stripping (pulling varicose veins) and is still the method of choice today. In the meantime, however, there are a large number of other alternatives, most of which stand out for their gentler approach. In most cases, however, these are more appropriate for less advanced varicose veins.
Two similar methods are laser therapy and radio wave therapy. In each case, a probe is inserted into the vein from the ankle under the control of ultrasound imaging and advanced to the affected varicose vein. There, either by laser or radio waves, the vein and the connecting vein is heated from the inside until it is closed.
The vein is not removed, but rather destroyed from the inside. Gradually the body breaks down the remains of the vein. Another, completely different method of treating varicose veins is the so-called external valvuloplasty.
In this procedure, the orifice area of the large truncal vein (vena saphena magna) on the upper inner thigh is exposed and narrowed using a plastic cuff. This strengthens the function of the valves and the vein does not have to be removed. In the CHIVA method, the varicose vein is searched for using ultrasound and the diseased sections are tied off so that they regress over time.
CHIVA is the abbreviation for “Cure Conservatrice et Hémodynamique de I’Insuffisance Veineuse en Ambulatoire” which means ambulant, blood flow correcting treatment of varicose veins. The so-called removal by a stripping operation provides for the complete or partial removal of the truncal vein. The skin veins and deep leg veins take over their function after the operation.
The procedure is usually minimally invasive. This means that no large incisions are made, only small incisions are made. A flexible probe is then inserted into the varicose vein through these small skin incisions.
The damaged vein can then be severed on both sides and removed. This method of removing varicose veins is considered particularly gentle and effective. In partial stripping, only small sections of damaged veins are removed, whereas in ordinary stripping a complete vein is removed.
The so-called “cold therapy” (cryo method) represents a special variant of varicose vein stripping.In this method, the damaged vein is removed by inserting a special cold probe. During the surgical procedure, the affected varicose vein should freeze on the cold probe. It can then be removed quite easily.
Each variant of the stripping operation can be performed on an outpatient or inpatient basis. You can find more information about this procedure at Operation of varicose veinsDuring sclerotherapy, a special sclerosing agent is injected into the veins. This artificially triggers inflammatory processes in the area of the veins (phlebitis) and the vein walls are glued together.
After a while a scarring of the veins can be observed. In order to effectively remove the varicose veins by this treatment method, compression therapy must be applied after the application of the sclerosing agent. Compression stockings must be worn continuously for a period of several hours to a few days.
In most cases the varicose veins cannot be removed by a single application. In many cases, the sclerotherapy has to be repeated after some time. Unsightly varicose veins can also be removed in a simple and gentle way by using the so-called CHIVA method.
During the surgical procedure, the attending physician localizes a local anesthetic in the area of the pathologically altered vein sections. These varicose veins are identified and located by means of an ultrasound examination. Once the affected vein sections are identified, they are simply tied off.
After a certain period of time, the tied varicose veins recede completely or begin to desolate. However, this method of removing varicose veins can only be used if the vein wall is slightly damaged. The CHIVA method is not suitable for very severe varicose veins.
With this method, varicose veins can be removed by narrowing the mouth of the large superficial leg vein (vena saphena magna) starting from the groin. This narrowing is done by sewing in a polyester cuff. By reducing the circumference of the vein, the function of the damaged venous valves can be restored.
The removal of varicose veins with the laser is usually performed on an outpatient basis and under local anesthesia. A small incision is made, usually in the area of the inner ankle where the large superficial collecting vein (vena saphena magna) runs. The doctor inserts a thin probe into this vein and pushes it forward to the point where the affected connecting vein opens.
The probe allows the laser light to be emitted in a targeted manner, thus heating the vessel from the inside. This causes the vein to sclerose and close. The surrounding tissue is spared as far as possible.
Over time, the body degrades the remaining blood vessel. After the procedure, the patient should wear compression stockings daily for at least four weeks, as this can reduce the risk of swelling and the formation of blood clots. Laser varicose vein removal is suitable for straight and not very advanced varicose veins. For more pronounced findings, classic vein stripping is usually preferable.
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