Over the past 20-30 years, many different innovative methods have been invented to remove diseased veins with varicose veins.If previously phlebologists only used classical surgery for this purpose, today they use biological glue, laser, steam, radiofrequency intervention and much more for this purpose.
The big advantage of modern methods of removing varicose veins is that almost all of them are minimally invasive - they are carried out with minimal surgical intervention (by injection, by puncture, by 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.
Radiofrequency intervention
This method is especially popular in the United States of America and has gained so much popularity due to the fact that after this procedure there are no scars or scars on the body, as, for example, after laser vein removal.Also, the advantage of this method over laser coagulation is safety for the most sensitive and delicate parts of the body (genitals, face).
The principle of intravenous radiofrequency surgery is extremely simple - through a small puncture, a special electrode catheter (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 carried out under the control of an ultrasound machine, so the doctor fully controls the progress of the procedure through the monitor at every stage.
The main advantage of radiofrequency catheter ablation is that it can be used on even the most vulnerable parts of the body.Another advantage is that after the operation it is not necessary to take painkillers and, in addition, 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, therefore this technique in the post-Soviet space, when removing varicose veins, is used relatively less frequently than in the United States.
Venaseal Bioadhesive
This innovative technique was invented in the USA 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 (no need to go to the hospital).Upon completion, you can immediately go 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 full supervision of a doctor;he observes in real time, using an ultrasound machine, how diseased veins come together and transform into connective tissue.The operation does not cause any harm to the body, nor does the bioglue itself, as it is an environmentally friendly substance and does not cause allergic reactions.
There are many advantages to this technology for removing varicose veins.Firstly, there is a complete absence of a rehabilitation period;After gluing the veins with bioglue, you don't even need to wear compression stockings, as with most other minimally invasive methods of removing enlarged veins.The person can immediately after the end of the operation go about his business.
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 unite and disappear before our eyes, the skin becomes smooth, nodules and tubercles disappear.
Among the disadvantages of the procedure, only the high cost and the fact that it is carried out in five countries of the world, including Latvia, stand out.Therefore, not everyone will be able to afford the removal of varicose veins using this method.
Sclerotherapy
Method very similar to the previous one, but less effective in relation to the main (internal) veins.In approximately 25-35% of cases, the main veins can be closed only partially, and this is fraught with repeated surgery.However, for superficial veins, those that project above the skin, this procedure has proven to be quite good.
During sclerotherapy, the doctor injects a special substance, a sclerosant, into the vein affected by varicose veins through a single puncture.This is what chemically glues the damaged vein together and removes it from the bloodstream.After surgery, the use of compression stockings is recommended.
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 enlarged veins is the price.
Laser coagulation
This method is one of the most popular today, as it has a large number of 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 energy from the laser is inserted into the affected vein through a special micro-hole in the skin.The fluid in the veins heats up and they stick together.With correctly 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 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, therefore, if the diseased veins were not removed at once, their repeated removal will be allowed only after 1-2 weeks.
Steam removal
It is also a very effective procedure for removing varicose veins;in Europe it is used along 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 took first place as the original and highest quality operation for removing 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 closes completely and leaves the circulatory system.After the procedure, compression stockings are required.
The operation is performed on an outpatient basis, under local anesthesia, without any prior preparation.After the vein is removed, you can go home immediately and work the next day.
Intravenous thermal vapor micropulse occlusion has many advantages.First of all, this is the effectiveness of the operation in complex cases, when the veins have extensive branching, large diameter or are located in side branches (previously such veins were removed only using the classic Varadi method).Furthermore, this method can be used in relapses of the disease and after thrombosis.
The main disadvantage is anesthesia;it is performed with added adrenaline and therefore can cause additional stress to the heart.Additionally, in some cases, people experience temporary loss of skin sensation and bleeding after steam removal of veins.
Miniphlebectomy
This is a minimally invasive and low-traumatic method of removing varicose veins that does not require prior preparation.The procedure is performed on an outpatient basis under local tumescent anesthesia and lasts approximately 40 minutes.After its completion, within a few hours you will be able to go home.All skin punctures 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.The doctor monitors the progress of the procedure using an ultrasound device.Anesthesia lasts 6 to 10 hours.
The advantages of such an 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 some time), deep vein thrombosis (isolated cases).To prevent the development of thrombosis, it is recommended to use compression stockings and limit physical activity in the first few days after vein removal.