Varicose veins are not just an aesthetic problem. We're talking about a serious threat to the health and even lives. At the first sign of the disease, you should consult with a doctor and start the treatment.
Let's take a look of what the treatment can offer you the medicine.
A modern approach to the treatment of varicose veins
It's hard to underestimate the prevalence of the disease, because according to statistics, it affects about 75% of women and 60% men. And that's just among the population of the developed countries. In order to explain the cause of varicose veins, you need to have an idea of the structure of the veins of the lower extremities. Venous blood in our legs are constantly moving up and overcoming the laws of gravity, for the purposes of this process, the veins are equipped with special valves that prevent that the liquid to fall down between the stirrings of the heart. Disruption of this mechanism, which gives rise to a return flow of the venous blood, and because of the increased number of blood vessels expand, reducing their tone.
The first stage of the varicose veins usually takes place without any specific symptoms, except that accompanied by a mild discomfort in the legs, and the "weight" in the evening. You may have noticed that your feet get tired after a short walk. For the second sub-compensation stage, and these characteristics are enhanced, and you experience pain and pain, swelling, tingling in legs, cramps.
In the third place, in the de-compensatory stage is characterized by irreversible changes in the skin on shin:
- edema, which did not fully close even after the sleep mode;
- hyperpigmentation;
- indurate — ring is exposed to the skin.
Thus, the skin becomes easily vulnerable, can be varicose eczema, and it is the finals of the trophic disturbance, ulcers. Ignorance of the disease, which is also facing such complications, as a thrombophlebitis, and thromboembolism.
The sooner you start treatment, the more hopeful will be the prognosis. However, to succeed, you need to adjust your life-style, leaving time for the screening process.
The suspicion of varices, should be used as a reason for early visits to the doctor, which will help you to diagnose the disease and determine the stage of the.
Diagnosis — the first step to recovery
In particular, the discussion of the patient it is necessary to collect the medical history. Continue to, the standard inspection and palpation of the affected areas. For a more detailed and accurate diagnostic purposes and angio ultrasound duplex scanning with color mapping of blood flow. The process is simple-an ultrasound-the only difference is that, in addition to the two-dimensional images, the doctor to see the speed and the direction of movement of the mapping of the flow of the blood in the veins. Modern ultrasound devices can be accurately determined by the idle valve of the vein segment with an abnormal direction of the blood flow to the exact mark, the projection of onto the skin.
Once the diagnosis is clear, it is time to start to take actions to get rid of varicose veins.
Conservative treatment of varicose veins
The non-surgical methods can prevent, prevention, or alleviation of a disease. As the main method of treatment, it is used only in the event that an operation is not possible.
Conservative methods include the following:
- Pressure therapy, i.e. the use of special compressive underwear or elastic bandages. The impact of the way the blood vessels, so as to facilitate the operation of the valve, and improves the the flow of blood. The effectiveness of compression therapy has been demonstrated in several studies. Are there any contra-indications including atherosclerosis, aortoarteritis, inflammatory diseases of the skin, and so forth.
- Drug therapy involves the use of medications, such as for oral administration and for local applications (in the form of an ointment). To a group of drugs for the treatment of varicose veins in the legs include, venotonic and anti-inflammatory medications, anticoagulants (blood thinners). Needed the the medications the doctor prescribed it specifically. It is important to remember that everyone has contra-indications. For example, the majority of the tablets venotonic is not to be taken in early pregnancy, while breast-feeding. And while on anticoagulants need regular blood tests for blood clotting.
As a primary therapy in the absence of any obstacles, and any contra-indications to appoint one of the available options for surgical treatment.
Traditionally, the operation of the (venectomy)
Currently, it is only used in certain circumstances related to the specific structure of the blood vessel, or a complicated course of the disease, for example, the various forms of acute thrombophlebitis.
The operation consists in the ligation of the confluence of the trunk of the influence of the saphenous vein in the deep system (crossectomy) and a mechanical removal of the barrel. The manipulation is performed under General anesthesia or spinal anesthesia and lasts for 1-2 hours. Due to the high incidence of postoperative complications — hematomas in the places of the removal of the stem, long-lasting pain in the skin, neuralgia and paresthesias (numbness) in the last few years, the traditional surgical intervention gives way to the modern method. These include endo-venous laser photocoagulation.
After the surgery, we recommend regular physical activity, which is not a significant burden for the one-and-a-half months of shows, the compression therapy.
In addition to this, the method of treatment, there are other, more gentle way to get rid of varicose veins in the legs.
Minimally invasive techniques
There are several types of minimally-invasive method for the treatment of varicose veins. On the basis of the data of the patient, and the characteristics of the diseases of the treating physician, who will take the decision on whether to conduct one of the procedures.
Endo-venous laser photocoagulation
The operation of the endo-venous laser treatment has become the method of treatment of varicose disease of any severity. Neither the severity of the venous insufficiency, or the thickness of the lumen of venous trunks currently, there is no limit to the endo-venous laser treatment. This was made possible as a result of the use of the following tools:
- a two-wave lasers with a single wave of the absorption by the hemoglobin, and another of the vascular wall;
- the radial fibers, which allow for the processing of the entire circumference of the inner surface of the vein;
- an automatic pump, which allows it to pump out of the anesthetic solution around the vein providing pain relief, reducing the diameter of the vein, and the protection of the adjacent tissues.
Special preparation for endo-venous laser treatment is not necessary. Prior to the operation, it is necessary to do an ultrasound duplex scanning. It also needs to be given to the blood by the standard set of preoperative tests: General, biochemical, coagulogram.
During the procedure, a physician puncture of the affected vein, and then inserting a thin (1 mm thick) catheter with a light guide. The entire process, as well as the situation with regard to the guide to Vienna, and hereinafter referred to as "software" in Vienna, under the supervision of the intraoperative ULTRASOUND machine. The operation takes approximately 40 minutes and requires only a local anesthetic.
After surgery spent in the hospital, it is not necessary, the patient must wear a compression garment for 3-5 days, and in a couple of weeks to the recommended daily relaxing walks.
Radiofrequency ablation
The operation is basically similar to laser coagulation. The only difference is that on the walls of the blood vessels, for that it's "closure" and subsequent resorption the effect of radio frequency radiation. Specific training, in addition to the standard preoperative, it is not necessary.
In the meantime, in connection with the improvement of laser systems, any advantages over the endo-venous laser photocoagulation, radiofrequency ablation did not. However, the process is more expensive due to the high price of the waveguides.
The operation can't be done during pregnancy and lactation, atherosclerosis of the arteries of the lower extremities, and an inability to follow the physical activity.
Of the possible complications, and a complex of restorative measures, the recovery period is similar to the previous procedure.
A Mini-phlebectomy
The principle of operation is to remove the inflow and the components of a vein by the puncture or incision in the skin with the use of a special tool. It is used isolated varicose tributaries, or as an additional process after the laser coagulation, radiofrequency ablation, and surgical phlebectomy.
The training is similar to the previous procedures, — the standard set of tests and a ultrasound examination of the out of the. Contraindications — pregnancy and breast-feeding, acute infectious diseases, thrombophlebitis, impaired motor activity, pathology and blood clotting.
The duration of the mini-phlebectomy is 20-40 minutes, during this time of rehabilitation, it is necessary to wear compression stockings.
Sclerotherapy
Non-surgical methods of varicose vein treatment is suitable for advanced varicose veins, and for aesthetic purposes, for the destruction of the vascular "stars" and "veins".
The contra-indications are get, an Allergy, an infection, pregnancy or lactation, inability to perform precise injection.
Sclerotherapy involves an injection into a vein puncture using a special compound to "glue" the walls of the vessel and later is what happened to their resorption. One of the latest innovations — the method of a foam, the foam which involves the use of a foam form of the drug. Thus, it is at least washed by the blood, making it possible to reduce the concentration and quantity of the substance in a more efficient and effective. The operation is carried out without anaesthetic, so as to puncture it requires only a small insulin needle.
Side effects of sclerotherapy include pigmentation, which can occur at the time of sklerozirovanie of Vienna, austria. In some cases, incomplete bonding, in Vienna, to which it will be necessary to re-treat it.
After sclerotherapy, you should wear your compression garment and avoid strenuous activities and high temperatures (for example, when a visit to the sauna).
The price of sclerotherapy depending on the volume level. For the removal of large varicose trunks sclerotherapy, is now almost never used. And sclerotherapy of small nodes or the venous network, will cost from 7,000 to 20,000 rubles.
With the development of medicine, it is a struggle with varicose veins in the legs have to be moved out of the category of "hundred years war", in the category of "quick wins". Sophisticated surgical techniques have given way to minimally invasive procedures that are safe and effective. Today varicose veins is not a sentence, but it is the only reason to see a specialist.