What is Varicose Veins?
Varicose veins are swollen and enlarged veins that usually occur on the legs and feet. They may be blue or dark purple, and are often lumpy, bulging or twisted in appearance. Other symptoms include:
- Aching, heavy and uncomfortable legs
- Swollen feet and ankles
- Burning or throbbing in your legs
- Muscle cramp in your legs, particularly at night
- Dry, itchy and thin skin over the affected vein
Who is More Likely to Get ?
- People aged over 40 Years
- Who stand a lot like Teachers / Hotel Industry / Sales/ Sailors / Sedentary Lifestyle / Excess Weight Training
- Women over 40 with 2 / more children
- People with previous leg injuries like Fractures
- Hereditary
- Obesity
Bulging Veins
Leg Swelling
Skin Color and Texture Changes
Venous Ulcers
What Are The Treatment Options?
- Surgical Stripping and Ligation: Open Surgical Procedure, high recurrence rate. Gives Scar, Needs Hospitalization and Loss of Productivity.
- Has high chance of recurrence.
- Non Surgical Thermal and Chemical Ablation procedures: Endovenous Laser Ablation, Percutaneous Sclerotherapy. Pin Hole Procedure, No Bed rest, Back to work the next day
- Dependant on stockings for 6 months post treatment.
Thermal Ablation ( Laser ) Treatment Requires :
- Heating Vein from Ankle to Groin up to 100 * C
- 100 – 150 Local Tumescence Anesthesia pricks to prevent thermal injury to other tissues.
- Need for GA or Spinal Anesthesia
- Increases anesthesia associated risk for vulnerable patients
- Compression by Stockings is Compulsory for over 6 months.
- Significant intra and post procedure discomfort
- Takes 18 – 22 weeks for closure of treated veins.
Challenges in Elderly
- MOST HAVE OTHER CONCURRENT COMORBIDITIES.
- PATIENTS WITH DECREASED CARDIAC OUTPUT
- ELDERLY PATIENTS IN HEART FAILURE
- PATIENTS WITH HISTORY OF REPEATED MI/ STENTING AND ON DUAL PLATELET THERAPY
- POST CARDIAC VALVE REPLACEMENT SURGERY
- PATIENTS ON LONG TERM ANTICOAGULANTS
Need for a Technique that can Avoid All this?
Non Thermal Adhesive Based Ablation (VenaSeal) Much Safer Option in elderly:
- Painless
- Instant Closure
- No Anesthesia
- No Burning Vein
- USFDA Approved
- No stocking dependant.
- Ankle length needed if sclerotherapy done concurrently
