To all the patients with vascular disease, for the confidence they have expressed, allowing us the absolute privilege of caring for their vascular surgical needs.
What symptoms do varicose veins cause?
Varicose veins can cause a whole spectrum of disease including pain, itching, swelling, heaviness and fatigue. In the most severe cases they can bleed or cause ulceration (skin tears) which can be quite difficult to heal.
What if the compression stockings don’t work?
When symptoms from varicose veins do not improve with compression stockings, or patients cannot tolerate their use, it is important that they see a physician who specializes in the treatment of varicose veins. There are a multitude of different procedures to treat veins today, and the old vein “stripping” is rarely done.
What treatments can the doctor offer for varicose veins?
The most common form of treatment in contemporary practice is either radiofrequency ablation of the varicose vein. This procedure is typically done in the office without sedation or anesthesia. A small needle is inserted into the vein after the skin in numbed and a catheter (about the size of a piece of spaghetti) is placed in the vein. The area around the vein it is numbed and the catheter is then turned on which treats the entire vein. There is minimal discomfort during the procedure and after the procedure is over the leg is wrapped up with an ace wrap for support.
Which is better Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) Or Laser Treatment (EVLA)?
The published success of radiofrequency ablation treatment is between 95-98%, with far fewer complications than vein stripping surgery. Due to the low temperatures used to heat the affected vein, post RFA discomfort is much less than that experienced with endovenous laser ablation. In our experience, significantly fewer patients complain of discomfort and pain following treatment with radiofrequency ablation than with EVLA.