Varicose Veins
prone to varicose veins?
varicose veins?
varicose veins?
prone to varicose veins?
What are varicose veins?
Who is prone to varicose veins?
Pathology
Treatment Plan
Minimally invasive varicose vein surgery
The result is theoretically alike open surgery. By using thermal (laser/ radiofrequency) ablation to destroy the diseased great/ small saphenous vein, the saphenous veins will shrink after the surgery. It is like closing the water tap, after the surgery the blood return to the heart from the deep veins instead, there will be no backflow issue. When the backflow problem is solved, the pressure of the calf veins is greatly reduced, which greatly improves the varicose veins.
This is a functional procedure. Not every prominent blood vessel will disappear but the appearance will gradually improve after the surgery. The blood vessels will still swell if patient stands for a long time. However, when the muscles are exerted, the blood will return to the heart through the deep veins, and the pressure in the veins will be reduced. Patient will feel the legs become lighter, and the blood vessels will be less swelled eventually.
The wound is about 2-3MM. Patients will wear appropriate compression stockings after surgery and can usually move around immediately. Minimally invasive endovenous therapy can be performed in clinic day procedure center or in hospitals. It can be performed under local anesthesia, but patients who are particularly low pain threshold can choose MAC (monitored anesthesia care) method under Anesthetist supervision.
After surgery, the saphenous vein is closed almost 100% (historical data from the clinic). According to statistics, the 5-year recurrence rate is 6%, which is several times lower than that of traditional open surgery.
Traditional Open Surgery
Under general anesthesia, the inner thigh is incised and a special wire is placed in the great saphenous vein (the main superficial vein), and the great saphenous vein is stripped out. Since the procedure requires general anaesthesia, elderly patients who are more prone to anesthesia side effect should be more careful when they consider this option. In addition, bruises will appear on the skin and it will be inconvenient to walk for a period of time. The chances of wound infection and bleeding are relatively high, and the recurrence rate is about 20-30%. The long recovery time also causes inconvenience at work.
Intravenous Glue
The procedure requires local anesthetic. The conduit is put in place, and the intravenous glue is injected to seal the vein. This operation is more suitable for small saphenous vein because there is no heat, and could avoid the damage to the sensory nerve.
Minimally invasive small hook vein excision surgery
if the doctor thinks it is necessary, this surgery can be done with the minimally invasive varicose vein surgery. After the minimally invasive varicose vein surgery, one great saphenous vein will be destroyed. The pressure of the remaining blood vessels will rise, and there will be a chance to form thrombus. However, as the saphenous vein is completely closed, the thrombus could not return to the heart. There might be discomfort but it rarely causes serious problems. This small hook vein excision surgery can reduce the above situation, and take away the visible vein on the surface. Each wound is about 1-2MM.
Foam Sclerotherapy
It is especially suitable for thin superficial blood vessels. Sodium Tetradecyl Sulfate (Fibrovein) will be injected to destroy the inner wall of the blood vessels. The blood vessels will shrink after being damaged. Patients are required to wear compression socks for a period of time after surgery. This surgery usually improves appearance and reflux problems.
| Minimally invasive varicose vein surgery | Traditional Open Surgery | Minimally invasive small hook vein excision surgery | Intravenous Glue | Foam Sclerotherapy | |
| Treatment Objective | Significantly improve varicose veins by destroying the great or small saphenous veins | Improve varicose veins by stripping the great saphenous vein | Complement to minimally invasive varicose vein surgery to hook out visible veins on the surface | Sealing the great or small saphenous vein to improve varicose veins | Injecting the drug into the superficial blood vessels to destroy the inner wall of the blood vessels. When the blood vessels constricts, it improves appearance and reflux problems |
| Surgery duration | 30 minutes | 2 Hours & up | 20 minutes | 30 minutes | 30 minutes |
| Surgery process | Insert catheter to release thermal energy to destroy the diseased vein | A Special wire is placed in the great saphenous vein and drawn it out | Complement to minimally invasive varicose vein surgery to hook out visable vein on the surface | Insert the catheter, inject the vein glue and the vein will seal | Inject foamed Sodium Tetradecyl Sulfate to destroy the inner wall of the blood vessels |
| Mode of anesthetic | Local anesthesia/ MAC | General anesthesia | Local anesthesia/ MAC | Local anesthesia | Anesthesia is not required |
| Wound | Only one 2-3MM wound | Multiple, 1cm to 10cm wound | Each wound is about 1-2MM | Only 1 needle port | Wear compression stockings for one week |
| Pain level after surgery | Mild | Moderate with bruises on the leg(s) | Mild | Mild | Mild |
| Recovery & rehabilitation | Hospitalization and bed rest are not required, patient could move freely on the same day | At least 1-3 weeks | Hospitalization and bed rest are not required, patient could move freely on the same day | Hospitalization and bed rest are not required, patient could move freely on the same day | Hospitalization and bed rest are not required, patient could move freely on the same day |
| Recurrance rate | 6% (in 5 years) | 20%-30% | N/A | No long term data | Treatment could be repeated until result is satisfactory |