Over the past 20-30 years, many different innovative methods have been invented for removing diseased veins with varicose veins.If previously phlebologists only used classical surgery for this purpose, today they already use biological glue, laser, steam, radiofrequency intervention and much more.
The big advantage of modern methods of removing varicose veins is that almost all of them are minimally invasive: they are performed with minimal surgery (through an injection, puncture, small incision) and do not require long postoperative recovery.
Therefore, in our today's article we will talk in detail about how varicose veins are removed using modern methods and consider their main disadvantages and advantages.
Radio frequency intervention
This method is especially popular in the United States of America and has gained such popularity due to the fact that after this procedure no scars or scars remain on the body, as, for example, after removal of veins with laser.Furthermore, the advantage of this method over laser coagulation is its safety for the most sensitive and delicate parts of the body (genitals, face).
The principle of endovenous radiofrequency surgery is extremely simple: through a small puncture, a special catheter-electrode (it looks like a long but thin wire) is inserted into the diseased vein, at the end of which there is a special nozzle 7 centimeters long, which emits radiofrequency energy, heating the veins and making them stick together.The operation is performed under the control of an ultrasound machine, so the doctor fully monitors the progress of the procedure through the 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 also the procedure itself is not very painful.
A significant disadvantage of such an intervention is the price, it is an order of magnitude higher than that of the same laser coagulation, so this technique in the post-Soviet space, when removing varicose veins, is used relatively less frequently than in the United States.
Bioadhesive Venaseal
This innovative technique was invented in the United States and has been successfully used in 5 countries since 2010.This procedure is absolutely painless, does not take much time and is performed on an outpatient basis without any pain relief (there is no need to go to hospital).After its completion, you can immediately return home and go about your business.
In the process of minimally invasive intervention, a special catheter is inserted into the affected vein through a puncture and through it is filled with bioglue.The entire procedure takes place under the complete supervision of a doctor;observe in real time through an ultrasound machine how diseased veins unite and transform into connective tissue.The operation does not cause any harm to the body, nor the bioglue itself, since it is an environmentally friendly substance and does not even cause allergic reactions.
There are many advantages to this technology for removing varicose veins.First of all there is the complete absence of a rehabilitation period;after gluing the veins with bioglue, it is not even necessary to wear compression stockings, as with most other minimally invasive methods of removing dilated veins.The person can immediately after the end of the operation carry out his own activities.
Another advantage of this method is its absolute painlessness and the complete absence of preliminary preparation.Visual changes become visible already during the operation, the veins merge and disappear before our eyes, the skin becomes smooth, nodules and tubercles disappear.
Among the disadvantages of the procedure can only be noted the high cost and the fact that it is performed only in five countries of the world, including Latvia.Therefore, not everyone will be able to afford the removal of varicose veins with this method.
Sclerotherapy
A method very similar to the previous one, but less effective than the main (internal) veins.In about 25 to 35 percent of cases, major veins can only be partially closed, requiring repeated surgeries.However, for superficial veins, those that protrude above the skin, this procedure has proven to be quite effective.
During sclerotherapy, the doctor injects, through a single puncture, a special substance, a sclerosant, into the vein affected by varicose veins.It is what chemically glues the damaged vein together and removes it from the bloodstream.After surgery it is recommended to wear compression stockings.
The main disadvantage of sclerotherapy is that the procedure is ineffective in sclerosing the main (internal) veins.Another significant disadvantage of this method of removing dilated veins is the price.
Laser coagulation
This method is one of the most popular today, as it has numerous advantages.This operation is performed under local anesthesia on an outpatient basis, after which patients are 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 a special microhole in the skin.The fluid in the veins heats up and they stick together.With properly administered local anesthesia, patients, as a rule, do not experience any postoperative pain syndrome.
The main advantage of this operation is that it is painless and there is no recovery period.
There are only two disadvantages of laser coagulation: the high cost of the procedure and the small scars, which in some cases do not heal even after several months.It is also worth noting that all procedures are carried out with an interval of 1-2 weeks, so if the diseased veins are not removed at once, their repeated removal is allowed only after 1-2 weeks.
Steam removal
It is also a fairly effective procedure for removing varicose veins;in Europe it is used together with the methods described above, but in the post-Soviet space it is much less common.In 2010, when it was officially recognized by the medical community at the European Phlebology Forum, it ranked first as an original and very high-quality intervention for the removal of varicose veins.
During this procedure, a catheter is inserted into the vein through a microhole, through which controlled micropulses of heated water vapor are delivered.Under its action, the venous walls are compressed, the vein is completely closed and exits the circulatory system.Compression stockings are required after surgery.
The operation is performed on an outpatient basis under local anesthesia, without any preliminary preparation.After vein removal, you can go home immediately and go to work the next day.
Intravenous thermal occlusion of vapor micropulses has several advantages.First of all, this is the effectiveness of the operation in complex cases when the veins have extensive branches, large diameter or are located in lateral branches (previously such veins were removed only by the classical Varadi method).Also, this method can be used in case of relapses of the disease and after thrombosis.
The main disadvantage is anesthesia;it is carried out with the addition of adrenaline and therefore can place additional stress on the heart.Additionally, in some cases, people experience temporary loss of skin sensitivity and bleeding after removal of steam from the veins.
Miniphlebectomy
This is a minimally invasive and low-traumatic method of removing varicose veins that does not require prior preparation.The operation is performed on an outpatient basis under local tumescent anesthesia and lasts approximately 40 minutes.After its completion, within a few hours you can return home.All puncture wounds on the skin heal after some time and become almost invisible.
During the operation, the surgeon makes several punctures along the dilated vein and mechanically removes the diseased vein through these holes.The doctor monitors the progress of the procedure using an ultrasound machine.Anesthesia lasts 6 to 10 hours.
The advantages of this intervention are a high cosmetic effect and a complete absence of pain.It is also worth noting that such an operation is available to a wide range of people, including people with ascending thrombophlebitis, as it is well tolerated.
This method has few disadvantages: hyperpigmentation of the skin along the removed vein (rare), bruising (dissolves without a trace after a while), deep vein thrombosis (isolated cases).To prevent the development of thrombosis, it is recommended to wear compression stockings and limit physical activity in the first days after vein removal.