Over the past 20-30 years, many different innovative methods have been created to remove diseased veins with varicose veins.If previously phlebologists used only classical surgery for this purpose, today they already use biological glue, laser, steam, radio frequency intervention and more for this purpose.
The great advantage of modern methods of getting rid of varicose veins is that almost all of them are minimally invasive - they are performed with minimal surgical intervention (through injections, through punctures, through small incisions) and do not require long post-operative recovery.
Therefore, in our article today, we will talk in detail about how veins are removed for varicose veins using modern methods and consider their main disadvantages and advantages.
Radio frequency interference
This method is very popular in the United States and has gained such popularity due to the fact that after this procedure there are no scars or cicatrices left on the body, for example, after laser vein removal.In addition, the advantage of this method compared to laser freezing is its safety for the most sensitive and delicate parts of the body (genitalia, face).
The principle of endovenous radiofrequency surgery is very simple - through a small puncture, special catheter-electrodes (look like a long but thin wire) are inserted into the diseased vein, at the end of which there is a special nozzle 7 centimeters long, which emits radio frequency energy, heats the veins and causes them to stick together.The operation is performed under the control of an ultrasound machine, so the doctor fully controls the progress of the procedure through a monitor at all stages.
The main advantage of radiofrequency catheter ablation is that it can be used even on the most vulnerable parts of the body.Another advantage is that after the operation you do not need to take painkillers, and besides, the procedure itself is not too painful.
A significant disadvantage of such an intervention is the price, it is an order of magnitude higher than the same laser coagulation, therefore this technique in the post-Soviet space, when removing varicose veins, is used somewhat less often than in the United States.
Venaseal bio adhesive
This innovative technique was created in the United States and has been successfully used in 5 countries since 2010. The procedure is completely painless, does not take much time and is performed on an outpatient basis without any pain relief (no need to go to the hospital).After completion, you can immediately go home and mind your own business.
In the process of minimally invasive intervention, a special catheter is inserted into the affected vein through a puncture and through it it is filled with bioglue.The entire procedure takes place under the full supervision of a doctor;he observes in real time through an ultrasound machine how diseased veins stick together and turn into connective tissue.The surgery does not harm the body, nor does the bioglu itself, because it is an environmentally friendly material and does not cause allergic reactions.
There are many advantages of this technology to remove veins for varicose veins.First of all, there is a complete absence of a recovery period;after gluing the veins with bioglue, you do not need to wear compression stockings, like most other minimally invasive methods of removing enlarged veins.The person can immediately after the end of the operation run their business.
Another advantage of this method is its absolute discomfort and the complete absence of preliminary preparation.Visual changes become visible already during the operation, the veins stick out and disappear before our eyes, the skin becomes smooth, nodules and tubercles disappear.
Among the disadvantages of the procedure, one can only note the high cost, and the fact that it is only carried out in five countries in the world, including Latvia.Therefore, not everyone will be able to remove varicose veins using this method.
Sclerotherapy
The method is almost the same as the previous one, but less effective in relation to the main (internal) vein.In about 25-35% of cases, the main vein can be closed only partially, and this is fraught with repeated surgeries.However, for superficial veins, those that protrude above the skin, this procedure has proven itself well.
During sclerotherapy, the doctor injects a special substance, a sclerosant, into the veins affected by varicose veins through a single puncture.It is what chemically attaches to the damaged vein and removes it from the bloodstream.After surgery, wearing compression stockings is recommended.
The main disadvantage of sclerotherapy is that the procedure is not effective in sclerosing the main (internal) veins.Another significant disadvantage of this method to remove dilated veins is the price.
Laser freezing
This method is one of the most popular today, because it has a large number of advantages.This operation is performed under local anesthesia on an outpatient basis, after which the patient is advised to wear compression stockings for 1 month.
During the procedure, a light guide that emits thermal laser energy is inserted into the affected vein through special micro-holes in the skin.The fluid in the veins heats up and they stick together.With properly administered local anesthesia, the patient, as a rule, does not experience any pain syndrome after the operation.
The main advantage of this operation is that it is painless and there is no recovery period.
There are only two disadvantages of laser freezing: the high cost of the procedure and small scars, which in some cases do not heal even after several months.It should also be noted that all procedures are carried out with a gap of 1-2 weeks, so if the diseased veins are not removed at one time, then their repeated removal is allowed only after 1-2 weeks.
Steam removal
It is also a fairly effective procedure for getting rid of varicose veins;in Europe it is used together with the method described above, but in the post-Soviet space it is less common.In 2010, when it was officially recognized by the medical community at the European Forum on Phlebology, it took first place as the highest quality and original operation for the removal of varicose veins.
During this procedure, a catheter is inserted into a vein through a microhole, where controlled micropulses of heated water vapor are sent to it.Under its action, the vein wall is compressed, the vein is completely closed and leaves the blood flow system.After the procedure, compression stockings are required.
The operation is performed on an outpatient basis under local anesthesia, without any prior preparation.After removing the vein, you can go home immediately and go to work the next day.
Steam micropulse endovenous thermal occlusion has many advantages.First of all, this is the effectiveness of the operation in complex cases when the veins have wide branches, large diameters or are located in side branches (previously such veins were removed only using the classic Varadi method).In addition, this method can be used for disease relapse and after thrombosis.
The main disadvantage is anesthesia;it is carried out with the addition of adrenaline, and therefore can put additional stress on the heart.Also, in some cases, people experience a temporary loss of skin sensitivity and bleeding after vein steam removal.
Miniphlebectomy
This is a minimally invasive and low-traumatic method to remove varicose veins that does not require prior preparation.The procedure is performed on an outpatient basis under local tumescent anesthesia and lasts about 40 minutes.After completion, in a few hours you can go home.All punctures on the skin heal after some time and become almost invisible.
During the operation, the surgeon makes several punctures along the dilated vein and through these holes mechanically removes the diseased vein.Doctors monitor the progress of the procedure using an ultrasound machine.Anesthesia lasts from 6 to 10 hours.
The advantage of such an intervention is a high cosmetic effect and the complete absence of pain.It is also worth noting that such an operation is available to various people, including people with ascending thrombophlebitis, because it is well tolerated.
This method has some disadvantages - hyperpigmentation of the skin along the removed veins (rare), bruising (dissolves without traces after a while), deep vein thrombosis (isolated cases).To prevent the development of thrombosis, wearing compression stockings and limiting physical activity in the first days after vein removal is recommended.