Abnormalities of veins are a very prevalent condition affecting very many Americans. Between 50% and 55% women are affected and about 45% of men. At least a half of the population aged over 50 years is affected by varicose veins. Risk factors include pregnancy, obesity, hormonal changes, increasing age and physical inactivity.
The choice of the method of treatment to use is determined by a number of factors. Disease severity is one of the most important determinants. The more advanced a condition is, the more likely it is that it will be treated invasively. The age and health status of the affected individual has to be assessed so that the surgeon determines whether the individual can tolerate surgery or medications chosen. Other important considerations are personal preference and cost.
The condition is first treated with conservative options before considering the invasive techniques. Compression stockings are one of the first options that are tried in the initial stages of management. The stockings work by compressing the vessels of interest. The stockings come in three types of increasing pressure strength. These are the pantyhose, the over-the-counter stocking and the prescription-strength.
Sclerotherapy is the injection of some chemicals into the affected vessels. It is recommended for persons that have small and medium-sized vessels. The chemical works by inducing formation of scars. As the scars form the vessels are sealed and the irregularity is reduced. The larger vessels may benefit from treatment by a special form of sclerotherapy that uses a liquid. Sclerotherapy is unsuitable in persons that have had deep venous thrombosis in the past.
Surgery is reserved for the very severe cases. There are a number of options available. One of them is known as surgical ligation and stripping. In this treatment, the affected vessel is tied and occluded before being removed from the limb through cuts made on the skin. The veins that are targeted are those that lie superficially. The deeper vessels that are left intact maintain the circulation afterwards.
Being a major surgical operation, there is need for general anaesthesia. In general, the operation is regarded as being safe. In the immediate pot-operative period, the most common side effect is leg pain. There are a number of other possible complications that one should look out for. These include, among others, excessive bleeding, wound infection, swelling and scar formation. Recovery takes between one and four weeks.
Other surgical options of varicose vein removal nyc
