Varicose veins are enlargements of the veins, especially in the legs. The general reason for these enlargements is that the valves in the veins are damaged and do not function properly. These valves normally work in one direction and facilitate the flow of blood from the feet to the heart and prevent the escape of blood from the heart to the feet. If these valves do not function properly, blood accumulates in the feet and causes enlargement of the veins and visible varicose veins. In this case, patients may have complaints such as edema, bruising, skin wounds, itching and redness, especially due to standing for too long.
In patients who complain of varicose veins or whose examination findings support varicose veins, the first thing to do is a standing color Doppler examination that will clearly show venous leakage. Depending on the results of this examination, it is decided whether treatment will be given, if so, where and with what method the treatment will be done.
The most common problem that causes varicose veins in the legs is the insufficiency of the main vein, which we call the great saphenous vein. In case of insufficiency in this vein, superficial varicose veins occur. If superficial varicose veins are treated without treating this main vein, these superficial varicose veins will develop again after a while. Therefore, the main vein should be treated first and after a while, superficial varicose veins should be treated. Endovenous varicose vein treatment for the great saphenous vein can be performed using three basic methods. These ; radiofrequency, laser and adhesive materials.
Basically, we can say that the implementation of the three methods is similar to each other. In these methods, the great saphenous vein is entered under local anesthesia under the knee. First, a guide wire is sent and the catheter is advanced over the wire to the inguinal region of the saphenous vein. Then, the vein is slowly closed with radiofrequency and laser energy or with adhesives that can be applied intravenously. The treated leg is wrapped with an elastic bandage. This bandage is not removed for approximately 3 days. Then, medium pressure compression socks are used for approximately 1 month. The patient is called for a check-up and the treated veins are checked. After 1 month, dilatations in the superficial veins continue. If so, sclerotherapy is performed on these vessels. With sclerotherapy, or generally known as foam therapy, Atherosclerol substance is turned into foam into superficial millimetric varicose veins and injected with needles of appropriate thickness for this procedure. These vessels close immediately after the injection. After this procedure, the leg is wrapped with an elastic bandage.
After varicose vein treatment with interventional methods, the patient is observed for a few hours and is carried out immediately afterwards. The patient can continue his daily activities. He does not need to be hospitalized.
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