WHAT ARE
TREATMENT OPTIONS?

Compression therapy

• 20-30 mm Hg compression hose (medical grade) are often used

• Elastic bandages

• Medicated bandages (varicose vein with ulcers)

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Ablation therapy (laser, radiofrequency, cyanoacrylate)

• A catheter is inserted in a vein, which closes the vein after delivering heat or laser or glue treatment to the vein wall.

• Treatments are equally effective with differing risks and benefits.

• Treatments are individualized based upon the patient’s clinical scenario

 

Sclerotherapy (solution, foam)

• Foam sclerotherapy is used to treat saphenous, accessory, or branching veins not treated by ablation, ligation and stripping, or phlebectomy

• Sclerotherapy solution is also used to treat smaller veins (less than 3mm -reticular veins, spider veins).

 

Micro-Phlebectomy

• Tiny slits are made in the skin over bulging varicose veins

• The varicose vein is then pulled through the slit in the skin and divided

• The disrupted varicose vein inhibits pooling of blood in the legs

 

Vein Stripping and ligation

• A historic and less utilized procedure since the development of less invasive and more effective treatments (radiofrequency ablation, laser ablation)

• Incisions are made in the groin and at the knee or ankle region

• The varicose vein within each incision site is cut/transected

• A slender tube is placed in the vein through the lower incision and exits the vein in the upper incision

• The vein is then pulled from the upper incision, and brought out of the lower incision

• The disrupted vein decreases pooling of blood in the legs after removal of the vein