Varicose veins are often mistakenly considered a cosmetic problem, but when left untreated they can progress to a more serious condition called chronic venous insufficiency. Chronic venous insufficiency of the lower limbs and its complications affect 20% of the population (40% of women and up to 17% of men).
Vascular disease occurs when the valves do not work properly, causing blood to flow backwards, pooling in the veins of the lower legs.
The main aim of the treatment of vascular disease is to reduce or stop the reverse flow of blood to improve the symptoms and quality of life of the patient. Other objectives to consider are reducing the risk of complications like ulceration, phlebitis or bleeding, as well as treating the esthetic component.
There are currently a variety of minimally invasive techniques with which to treat varicose veins without the need for surgery, which eliminate varicose veins and spider veins in a simple, outpatient and practically painless way and which are less aggressive than conventional surgery and involve a lesser degree of risk.
Cyanoacrylate glue ablation
Ablation is a non-surgical treatment using medical adhesive, guided and controlled by ultrasound at all times, which allows us to be accurate in sealing the saphenous vein from its origin. It is a minimally invasive technique that requires local anesthesia only and does not require bed rest or compression stockings, so the patient can continue with their daily lives.
The system is intended for use in adults with clinically symptomatic venous reflux as diagnosed by duplex ultrasound (DUS) and is indicated for permanent closure of the superficial truncal veins of the lower limbs, like the great saphenous vein (GV).
Ultrasound-guided catheter-directed foam sclerotherapy
Ultrasound-guided catheter-directed foam sclerotherapy has proven to be a safe, effective method in the treatment of varicose veins, saphenous veins, spider veins, capillary veins, perforator veins, reoccurring varicose veins and venous malformations.
The procedure is based on the injection of a micro-foam medication through a specifically ultrasound-located catheter, which displaces the blood from the veins. This ensures that the sclerosing agent acts at the exactly the right point, in addition to allowing progressive visualization of the foam through the vein, causing irritation of the venous endothelium and occlusion of the blood vessels treated, confirming the effectiveness of the treatment.
As with the system using medical glue, it is a minimally invasive, outpatient technique requiring only local anesthesia and does not require bed rest.
The post-procedure stage in both cases is generally very bearable for the patient, without the need to wear compression stockings and allows for an immediate return to normal activities. However, it should be noted that a certain number of patients may present pain the treated area due to some inflammation during the first few days. In that case, any discomfort is usually easily controlled with anti-inflammatory medication.
To carry out these treatments, Hospiten takes the clinical, etiological, anatomical and pathophysiological staging of the limb to be treated into account, in addition to the existence of any symptoms attributable to venous insufficiency like pain, heaviness, cramps, paresthesia (tingling), pruritus (itching) and/or edema.
Likewise, symptoms prior to the intervention will be analyzed and compared with the patient's situation 3 and 7 days after the procedure, as well as the absence and/or presence of visible varicose veins in the area treated.
After the intervention, the hospital will subject the patients to periodic check-ups a week after the procedure, at 21 days and subsequently at 6, 12 and 36 months, in which duplex ultrasound technology will be used to examine blood flow in the major arteries and veins in the legs.
Hospiten clarifies that this treatment is not recommended for people who have certain previous pathologies, as is the case of patients with a history of venous thrombosis, heart, kidney or liver failure, active malignant neoplasms, thrombophilia or hypersensitivity to local anesthetics, among others. Likewise, the treatment cannot be applied during pregnancy or while a mother is breastfeeding.