Varicose veins are a disease that affects about a third of the world's population, which is quite a lot. In this regard, therapy for this pathology requires modern and effective solutions.
Medicine is developing, modern methods for treating varicose veins appear, which are less and less traumatic and invasive, which contribute to the rapid recovery of patients. This kind of procedure is carried out in the clinic.
How were varicose veins treated in the past?
The problem of varicose veins has accompanied man since he (man) became erect. It is known that no other mammal species suffers from this pathology, so humans have been struggling with it for a long time, for example:
- There are cave paintings found in the Sahara Desert that depict people with bandaged feet, and the paintings are approximately 5, 000 years old.
- In the discovered Egyptian medical manuscripts there is information that it is not necessary to touch the dilated veins under the skin, but many healers still experimented on pharaoh's wives - they burned diseased veins.
- Indians in Central and South America use medicinal herbs, particularly amaranth, to treat varicose veins.
- Information about this pathology can also be found in the works of the Greeks (Hippocrates, Herophilus and Erasistratus). What is noteworthy is that the first of these doctors developed conservative and surgical treatment methods.
- The Roman scientist Celsus used a special hook to combat pathology (interestingly, the device is still used today for the modern treatment of varicose veins, in particular, with miniphlebectomy).
- For China, it is customary to fight diseased blood vessels with the help of leeches, acupuncture and cauterization.
- In Japan, special attention is paid to conservative treatment.
- It is not without reason that the Middle Ages are called "dark", because in Europe there were many prohibitions related to operations ("interference in the affairs of God"), and affected veins, as a rule, were simply burned.
- At the same time, medicine is actively developing in the Middle East - for example, the famous doctor Avicenna tightly bandaged diseased vessels (which today are mainly used for prevention or recovery).
- Renaissance, New Age - all these are periods of discovery, including in the field of medicine. Doctors are increasingly studying the principles of venous circulation. Scientists are developing various surgical methods, some of which are still used today, and new methods of sterile vein ligation are being invented.
In the 20th century, laser procedures began to be studied and new, more effective treatment methods were created. This process is still running, without stopping for a minute. Of course, the way varicose veins are treated today is very different from the way it used to be.
Modern methods of treating varicose veins
The latest method of treating varicose veins is the destruction and coagulation of various types - this is the least traumatic manipulation. Let's take a closer look at some types of modern methods of combating varicose veins.
Endovenous laser coagulation
You can often find an abbreviated name for this method - EVLC. The principle of operation is as follows: a laser light guide, which heats the blood, is placed into the cavity of the diseased vein. As a result, the vessels are sealed, and for some time the veins turn into connective tissue. The process itself lasts 20-30 minutes, after which you may only need to wear special knitwear for 40-60 minutes. Conservative treatment and further compression is determined by the doctor based on the medical history. This procedure can be done on both sides.
The advantages of modern methods for treating varicose veins are:
- duration - only 20-30 minutes;
- manipulation does not require cutting, applying or removing sutures, because the procedure is carried out through a puncture;
- painless (under local anesthesia) and safety;
- quick recovery (you can return to your normal life on the day of the procedure);
- minimal trauma, excellent aesthetic appearance after intervention.
However, treatment methods also have contraindications, including:
- obesity in the legs;
- blood clotting disorders;
- extreme degree of disease, for example, obvious venous dilatation, which may require surgery or combined therapy;
- severe atherosclerosis of the arteries in the lower part of the leg, which requires a special approach;
- intolerance to anesthetic drugs used in EVLT;
- period of pregnancy and breastfeeding;
- deep vein thrombosis in the acute phase;
- inflammation at the site of the lesion;
In addition, EVLT is usually not prescribed if the patient cannot move actively after the manipulation, or if he has a disease that makes it impossible to wear special stockings to avoid bruising or any complications.
Radio frequency elimination
Another type of modern non-surgical treatment for varicose veins is radiofrequency obliteration, or RFO. Treatment is carried out through the use of a radio frequency generator. Therefore, sound waves enter through a special catheter with radiation, which heats and then narrows the walls of the vessels.
It should be remembered that the vein is completely closed, after the procedure, it is enough to treat the manipulation site with an antiseptic and use a sterile bandage. The peculiarity of this method is that the procedure can be prescribed for heart and kidney diseases, and not only for varicose veins.
RFO has the following advantages:
- painlessness (local anesthesia is used during application), as well as safety;
- duration not more than 40 minutes;
- results can be seen after only 7 days;
- minimal trauma, excellent aesthetic appearance;
- complete "sticking" of blood vessels;
- high efficiency;
- the ability to use this method if the patient has other diseases;
- no additional surgical intervention is required.
There are also contraindications to the use of this procedure. Among them:
- inflammatory process at the site of the lesion;
- infectious and viral pathologies;
- pregnancy and breastfeeding;
- vein thrombosis;
- severe atherosclerosis of the arteries in the lower part of the leg - as already indicated, this pathology requires surgical intervention;
- allergic reaction to the anesthetic that will be used during the procedure.
In addition, contraindications are situations when the patient has a pathology that prohibits him from wearing compression stockings.
Steam removal
This method is one of the most recent in the history of medicine. The so-called "steam injection" combines EVLT and RFO. It is the least invasive - compared to others - and is considered the most versatile today. As with the procedure described above, vapor elimination does not require additional hospitalization.
The most pleasant advantage of the method is the possibility of its use at any level - very deep veins can be treated with this type of intervention. The fact is that steam penetrates very quickly and without any special obstacles into the vessel, filling any bend in the vein.
The principle of the method is as follows: water under pressure is pumped into a tube, which is heated by an electric current, and thus the water changes its structure, turns into steam, which enters the vessel, where it is again converted into water, while the vascular walls absorb heatproduced by such simple manipulations.
Like the procedure described above, this manipulation also does not last long. The patient recovers quickly, and after completing the process and wearing compression stockings for 30-40 minutes, he can return to his usual way of life.
Mechanochemical elimination
It combines mechanical effects on the walls of blood vessels and treatment of the patient with chemicals. After a small puncture, a special catheter is placed at the site of the lesion. With its help, a device is inserted that damages the walls of blood vessels, thereby closing them. Manipulation is performed on the inner surface of the vein, and therefore does not require the use of anesthetic. At the end of the procedure, the puncture site is covered with a sterile bandage or napkin. In addition, the patient must wear compression stockings for 30-40 minutes.
Since excision does not require anesthesia, this method may be indicated if the patient is intolerant to anesthetics. It is also recommended for people with a low pain threshold. In addition, this procedure can also be performed if the patient has a trophic ulcer.
Quick recovery, the ability to return to a normal lifestyle as soon as possible, minimal restrictions during the recovery period - all these are the advantages of the above therapy methods. The advantage of mechanochemical removal is the minimal risk of infection due to trauma.
Destruction of stickers
Another procedure that may be recommended for patients with varicose veins is called adhesive removal. It is famous for the fact that after the manipulation is completed there is no need to wear special knitwear.
Like the other methods described above, this method does not require an incision: a special glue is injected into the lumen of the diseased vessel, which seals the inner wall and diverts blood circulation through healthy veins.
This method of therapy can be prescribed to patients who have complications from varicose veins (as a rule, they are clearly visible on the lower part of the legs). Intervention is also performed for patients with a large diameter of the affected vein (unlike the method described above).
Which of the modern methods to treat varicose veins is the most effective?
All of the above methods for treating varicose veins are very effective, but each of them has its own characteristics, where specific procedures are recommended for certain patients. If a person is contraindicated to wear compression stockings, and/or has some complications from varicose veins, he will be given an adhesive removal. If there is a possibility of an allergic reaction to any anesthetic, a qualified specialist can prescribe mechanochemical elimination.
Also, the criteria for choosing the most appropriate method to treat varicose veins are as follows:
- Safety, absence of unwanted reactions.
- Efficiency.
- Results retention period.
The last point deserves to be discussed separately, because this criterion is very indicative of one analysis based on the results of 119 studies comparing RF, surgery, sclerotherapy and EVLT.
As a result, this result (indicator in percentage) shows that:
- 5 years after the procedure, the effectiveness of EVLT increased from 92. 9 to 95. 4. When compared to RFO, the effectiveness of this method decreased during 5 years from 88. 9 to 79. 9.
- As for the results of surgical intervention, the effectiveness of this method decreased from 80. 4 to 75. 7 within 5 years. In the second case, more than 5 years you can also see a decrease in the effectiveness of sclerotherapy from 82. 1 to 73. 5, however, procedures such as, for example, surgery are usually prescribed in cases where it is impossible to use more effective treatment methods. varicose veins.
From the study, we can clearly conclude that today the most progressive and effective method for treating varicose veins is EVLT, because, unlike other methods that make comparisons, its effectiveness increases over time, and not the other way around, decreases. Keep in mind that the clinic carries out all the procedures shown in the article that can help patients in the treatment of varicose veins.