ur. Sclerotherapy is most effective on smaller surface veins, less than 1 to 2 millimeters in diameter.
What is ambulatory phlebectomy?
Ambulatory phlebectomy is a surgical procedure for treating surface veins in which multiple small incisions are made along a varicose vein, and the vein is "fished out" of the leg using surgical hooks or forceps. Ambulatory phlebectomy is done under local or regional anesthesia, in a hospital operating room or the procedure room of a doctor's office.
What is vein stripping?
If the source of the reverse blood flow is due to damaged valves in the saphenous vein, the vein may be removed by a surgical procedure known as vein stripping. Under general anesthesia, all or part of the vein is tied off and pulled out. The legs are bandaged after the surgery, but swelling and bruising may last for weeks. The minimally invasive VNUS® Closure® procedure and VenaCure EVLTTM are now considered more desirable alternatives to vein stripping.
When is Closure® used?
The Closure procedure, like vein stripping, is used to eliminate reverse blood flow (venous reflux) in the great saphenous vein. But unlike in vein stripping, the vein is not physically removed, and the procedure can be performed without general anesthesia. Like other venous procedures, the Closure procedure involves risks and potential complications. You should consult your doctor to determine whether or not you are a candidate for this procedure and if your condition presents any special risks. Complications reported in medical literature include numbness or tingling (paresthesia), skin burns, blood clots, and temporary tenderness in the treated limb.
What is the main difference between arteries and veins?
In simplest terms, arteries pump oxygen-rich blood from the heart, and veins return oxygen-depleted blood to the heart.
What are the three main categories of veins?
Deep leg veins return blood directly to the heart and are in the center of the leg, near the bones. Superficial leg veins are just beneath the skin. They have less support from surrounding muscles and bones than the deep veins and may thus develop an area of weakness in the wall. When ballooning of the vein occurs, the vein becomes varicose. Perforator veins serve as connections between the superficial system and the deep system of leg veins.
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