Varicose Veins, A Common Circulation Problem
Approximately 25 percent of women and 15 percent of men in the United States have
varicose veins. The condition is usually the
result of problems with valves within the veins of the leg.
When one or more of the valves fails to close properly, the
veins conduct blood back into the leg instead of up to the heart.
As blood accumulates, abnormal pressures dilate the superficial
vein system, causing the veins to bulge and become visible.
The tendency to get varicose veins is commonly hereditary and
occurs more commonly in women than men.
Depending on the severity of the condition, initial treatment is usually a compression stocking worn while the patient is up and about. The stocking may relieve the symptoms and delay the progression of the condition somewhat, but does not cure the underlying problem. The definitive treatment is to stop the flow of blood back into the legs by surgically destroying the varicose vein.
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Left untreated Varicose Veins can cause complications such as Ulcers as
seen here in different stages. |
Causes of Varicose Veins:
Varicose veins are not something that happen overnight. Usually it takes years for them to develop to a stage where symptoms occur. Varicose veins are commonly inherited although its important to note that anyone can get them. Often times varicose veins are common in people who have had certain types of injury to the leg or an episode of deep vein clots. Varicose veins became more frequent as more people in todays society began working standing still or sitting down, which in turn deprived their veins of regular circulatory flow of the leg muscles. Lack of exercise, restrictive clothing, weight gain can add to the strain on the veins.
The following are sources of Varicose Veins:
- Incompetent saphenous veins
(greater or lesser)
- Incompetent perforator veins
- Incompetent branches of the saphenous veins
In the first two categories it is important to treat the source of the problem otherwise varicose veins will recur. For incompetent saphenous veins the procedure of choice is ligations stripping from the groin to the knee. The vein can be occluded (blocked) with laser or radiofrequency, but the groin branches in this case will be left open so the recurrence rate is higher.
For the incompetent perforators the minimally invasive procedure is called SEPS (sublascial endoscopic perforators surgery). All these procedures are performed on an outpatient basis!
Please Note:
The main superficial vein in the leg is the Saphenous vein. Communicating veins
between the Saphenous vein and the deep veins system, are called Perforators veins.
Traditional varicose vein surgeries are "blind procedures" requiring long operative times and multiple incisions. In vein stripping, for instance, a long wire is threaded into the vein from the groin to the ankle and secured to an acorn-shaped head attached to the wire. Traction on the wire at the groin is used to pull the vein out, with the remnants of the vein removed through incisions in the leg. Likewise, in a process called stab avulsion phlebectcomy, several tiny incisions are made with a scalpel and a hook probe is used to separate the vein from body tissue. The vein is then grasped by a clamp and pulled out from the soft tissue of the leg.
The TriVex System offers a much safer and more effective means to treat varicose veins as opposed to outdated traditional methods. Dr. Saines is one of the few doctors who has mastered the Trivex System offering a very safe and effective means of eliminating Varicose Veins. For more information about the treatment of varicose veins and the TriVex System call (310)823-7314 or contact us.
Varicose Veins During Pregnancy:
It is common for women to develop varicose veins during their
pregnancy. The main cause of this is due to the hormone changes
in the womans body. There are increased levels of progesterone
which cause the blood vessels to relax. This problem can be
increased due to the fact that the enlarged womb may pressure
the major veins that pass through the pelvis which results on
pressure in the veins of the legs. Varicose veins
during pregnancy are more likely to affect
women who have an inherited tendency of varicose veins in their
family.
Its important to note that varicose veins may disapear after pregnancy however after each subsequent pregnancy varicose veins are more likely to appear and become more visible. For women who had varicose veins in previous pregnancies its important you take precautions if you become pregnant again.
For more information about the treatment of varicose veins and the TriVex System call (310)823-7314 or contact us.
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Copyright 1993-2008 Varicose Vein Doctor - Marius Saines. All rights reserved.
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