What is sclerotherapy

Sclerotherapy - this is the introduction of advanced superficial veins of the drug that causes the walls of the veins sticking, and the disappearance of their closure. Instead of the missing section of veins, new small veins (collaterals), which take the load of the remote vein. For the first time this method of treatment has been proposed by the famous French surgeon Shassenyakom in 1853. Development of a technique initially hampered by the lack of high-quality sclerosing drugs, which would not give adverse effects. Currently, these drugs have been developed as clear indications and contraindications for sclerotherapy.

Indications

Sclerotherapy may be used alone or in combination with surgery. As an independent method, it is applied in the initial stages of the disease and with moderate varicose superficial veins of the lower extremities, as well as the Scatter type of varicose veins when the surgical removal of the expanded sections of veins is virtually impossible.

In conjunction with the operation of sclerotherapy increasingly used to address individual small branches varices before or after surgery. Less likely to sclerosis great saphenous vein during surgery after the ligation. Sclerotherapy as a method of follow-up care after surgical removal of veins is performed 2-3 weeks after surgery. The remaining nodes are not removed venous and small venous branches sclerosing solution is injected.

Contraindications

Contraindications to sclerotherapy are:

• obstruction of deep venous limbs;
• insolvency (inability to hold regurgitation) veins, carrying a message between the superficial and deep veins;
• acute vascular disease;
• pregnancy;
• general illness requiring bed rest;
• state after acute and exacerbation of chronic diseases (no earlier than a month);
• diabetes Diabetes - threatening and incurable disease ;
• severe heart disease, liver and kidney;
• increased thyroid function The thyroid gland - is responsible for your hormones ;
• propensity to allergic reactions;
• the presence in the body of foci of purulent infection;
• inflammation of the skin on the lower extremities.

Treatment is carried out only with the full confidence in cross-deep and communicating (carrying a message between the deep and superficial veins) veins.

Complications

Sclerotherapy may be complicated by local and general allergic reactions. At the site of injection of sclerosing agent can be formed infiltrates (seal tissue inflammatory origin) and hematoma (limited accumulation of blood in the subcutaneous tissue).

It may be also thrombosis Thrombosis - the cause of heart attack and stroke   (occlusion) deep veins, which would lead to abuse. Circulation in the art. Contact sclerosing substances into the tissue can occur okolovenoznye their extinction.

Remember: the best prevention of varicose veins Varicose veins - the operation is inevitable?   - A sedentary life.

  Galina Romanenko

Why is this happening to our veins?

Causes of varicose veins can be hereditary, when the weakness of the muscles of the venous wall and valve apparatus inherited, or acquired when the same result is obtained for any effects on the body (infectious diseases, poisoning). By the blood veins of feet is supplied from the bottom up. The valves in the veins of the flow of blood in one direction, not allowing it to flow downward by gravity. When the valves do not work as it should, the vein wall are experiencing additional pressure, lose elasticity, expanding, making it difficult to close the valves properly. Instead of flowing from one valve to another, the blood begins to accumulate in the veins irreversibly increasing their lumen. Most often varicose veins appear to those who spends much time on your feet (this situation contributes to the progression of the disease).

What are the symptoms of varicose veins of the legs

Initially, there is fatigue feet, the appearance in them a feeling of heaviness, itching, warmth, and sometimes - a small swelling Prevention and treatment of edema - it is important to understand the root cause   in the ankle. After a while, it appears moderately dilated veins in the thigh or lower leg, and then there are nodes, vascular tortuosity. Feature of the disease is that it can flow over the years virtually asymptomatic vascular pattern appearing only on the skin. Therefore, in the disease course distinguishes compensation stage venous return (the process does not go beyond the venous system) and step decompensation when blood circulation and suffer surrounding tissues (edema, trophic ulcers).

Varicose veins may be complicated by inflammation of the vein wall and the formation of a blood clot in this place (thrombosis), bleeding sites, malnutrition surrounding tissue with the formation of trophic ulcers. The most serious complication - thrombosis Thrombosis - the cause of heart attack and stroke   pulmonary artery, it can cause instantaneous death.

Forecast

Decrease or loss of ability to work in the stage of decompensation says almost half of the patients. Therefore, varicose veins necessarily need to be treated. Treatment can be conservative and surgical.

Conservative treatment

Conservative treatment contribute to the temporary improvement of the venous limb. It is wearing elastic stockings, bandages, physiotherapy, physical therapy, drugs that improve the tone of veins.

Physiotherapy

A special place in the treatment of these patients takes physiotherapy (physical therapy), as an active muscle contraction helps move blood from the superficial veins to the deep, relieving tension in the venous system. On the contrary, prolonged tension in a state of immobility hinders such outflows. Patients should be observed motion mode, which provides the alternation of exercise and dosed walking elastic stockings with bed rest.

Are mandatory exercise Myths about exercise: do not believe   Foot performed lying horizontal position or raised legs, with a lot of movement to the hip and ankle joints, strengthening exercises for the muscles of the femur and tibia (walking).

Very useful swimming, hiking and skiing. Biking - only elastic stockings followed by rest lying high podnozhnikom.

Decompensated exercises are performed lying only for 10-20 minutes. Exercise therapy can not be done only in the presence of thrombophlebitis.

Surgical treatment

Modern surgery for varicose veins Varicose veins - the operation is inevitable?   consist of a combination of several surgical techniques, selected for the individual patient according to the shape, location, distribution, and stage of the process. The resumption of the disease (relapse) after operations occur often enough - this is a feature of the disease.

Currently, this method is often used as microphlebectomy (removal of varicose veins with special instruments through punctures in the skin). It can be done on an outpatient basis.

Sclerotherapy is used in patients with primary and uncomplicated and is in advanced superficial veins injected drug that causes a "drying up" of the bed vessel, shutting them out of the venous system.

Varicose veins can be and should be treated, otherwise one day you will not be able to walk.

Galina Romanenko