Varicose Veins

By Dr. Charles Mano Sylus, MS (Gen Surg) DIP( Lap Surg) FALS(Colorectal), FIAGES, MHSc ( Diab)

What are Varicose veins?

Varicose veins are swollen blood vessels that appear just under your skin’s surface in your lower body.

Who can get varicose veins?

Age: Because of the aging process, vein walls and valves don’t work as well as they once did. Veins lose elasticity and stiffen.
Gender: Female hormones can allow the walls of the veins to stretch. People who are pregnant, taking the birth control pill, or going through menopause have a higher risk of varicose veins because of changes in hormone levels.
Family history: This condition can be inherited (runs in families).
Lifestyle: Standing or sitting for long periods decreases circulation. Wearing restrictive clothing, such as girdles or pants with tight waistbands can decrease blood flow.
Overall health: Certain health conditions, such as severe constipation or certain tumors, increase pressure in the veins.
Tobacco use: People who use tobacco products are more likely to develop varicose veins.
Weight: Excess weight puts pressure on blood vessels.

How can I prevent varicose veins?

You may not be able to prevent varicose veins. You can reduce your chances of developing them by living an active, healthy lifestyle. Healthcare providers recommend many of the same measures to prevent and treat varicose veins:

Avoid long periods of standing
Elevate your legs
Maintain a healthy weight.
Quit tobacco and stay active: To improve circulation, move frequently and avoid sitting still for prolonged periods.
Try compression stockings
Wear clothes that fit properly

When should I see a General Surgeon?

A heaviness and aching in your legs
Burning, swelling, cramping, and throbbing in your lower leg.
Itchy feeling around one or more of your veins.
Pain that worsens after sitting or standing for long periods of time.
Discoloration in the skin.

What are my treatment options?

Endo-venous Laser Ablation Therapy (EVLT). This procedure is the preferred treatment for larger varicose veins. A healthcare provider inserts a thin tube (catheter) into an enlarged vein and heats the tip of the catheter using laser energy. As the catheter is removed, the heat destroys the vein by causing it to collapse and seal shut.
A healthcare provider injects the varicose veins with a solution or foam that scars and closes those veins. In a few weeks, treated varicose veins should fade.

The same vein might need to be injected more than once. Sclerotherapy doesn’t require anesthesia and can be done in a health care provider’s office. But the possibility of recurrence is more in Sclerotherapy

High ligation and vein stripping. This procedure involves tying off a vein before it joins a deep vein and removing the vein through an incision. Removing the vein won’t keep blood from flowing in the leg because veins deeper in the leg take care of the larger volumes of blood. It can be painful and recovery takes time
Ambulatory phlebectomy. A healthcare provider removes smaller varicose veins through a series of tiny skin punctures. Only the parts of the leg that are being pricked are numbed in this outpatient procedure. Scarring is generally minimal.

What is endovenous laser varicose vein surgery and why is it more beneficial?

Endo-venous laser ablation therapy (EVLT) is a minimally invasive procedure that makes use of catheters, lasers, and ultrasound by producing heat from the laser to treat and reduce varicose veins.

Laser surgery closes and shrinks the varicose vein and causes scar tissue within the vessel. This seals off the vein. Blood then flows through other nearby veins instead.

Benefits