Varicose vein - noninvasive treatment
Alternate Names : Sclerotherapy, Laser therapy - varicose veins, Radiofrequency vein ablation, Endovenous thermal ablation, Transilluminated power phlebotomy, Endovenous laser ablation, Varicose vein therapy
Definition
Varicose veins are swollen, twisted, painful veins that have filled with blood. They usually develop in the legs. Your doctor may be able to treat them in noninvasive ways instead of vein stripping, the traditional surgery for this problem.
Overview & Description
Normally, valves in your veins keep your blood flowing so it does not collect in one place. But the valves in varicose veins are either damaged or missing. This causes the veins to remain filled with blood, especially when you are standing. Nonsurgical treatments for this problem are done in a doctor’s office or clinic. You will receive local anesthesia to numb your leg. You will be awake but not feel pain.
Sclerotherapy is one common treatment. Your doctor will inject saline (saltwater) or a chemical solution into the varicose vein. The vein will harden and then disappear. Newer methods are also being use to treat varicose veins. One is called radiofrequency ablation. Another is called endovenous laser ablation. Each of these uses intense heat to treat the vein. During these procedures: - Your doctor will puncture the varicose vein. Ultrasound (a painless way to see inside your leg) will guide your doctor during the treatment.
- Your doctor will thread a catheter (a flexible tube) through the vein up to your groin. The doctor will inject a special solution into your vein to numb it.
- Intense heat will reach the vein through the catheter in the vein. The heat will close off and destroy the vein. The vein will disappear over time.
Why the Procedure Is Performed
Most patients should try self-care treatments first. Common self-care includes keeping your leg elevated and wearing compression stockings. If self-care does not help, talk with your doctor about which treatment might be best for you. Varicose vein therapy may be recommended for: - Leg pain, often described as heavy or tired
- Ulcers or sores that are caused by poor blood flow in the veins
- Improving the appearance of the leg. This is a common reason for sclerotherapy.
- Lipodermatosclerosis - fatty tissue under that skin that hardens over time from high blood pressure in a vein
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