Varicose veins are a disease that affects about a third of the world's population, which is quite a lot. In this regard, the treatment of this pathology requires modern and effective solutions.
Medicine is developing, modern methods of treating varicose veins that are less traumatic and invasive appear, which helps the patient to recover quickly. Such procedures are carried out in clinics.
How were varicose veins treated before?
The problem of varicose veins accompanies humanity (man) from the moment he became erect. It is known that no other species of mammals suffer from this pathology, so people have been fighting it for a long time, for example:
- There is a cave painting found in the Sahara desert that depicts people with bandaged feet, and the painting is about 5, 000 years old.
- In the medical manuscripts found in Egypt, there is information that it is not necessary to touch the dilated veins under the skin, but many healers still experimented on the wives of the pharaohs - they burned the diseased veins.
- Central and South American Indians used medicinal plants, especially amaranth, to treat varicose veins.
- Information about this pathology can also be found in the works of the Greeks (Hippocrates, Herophilus and Erasistratus). It is noteworthy that the first of these doctors developed both conservative and surgical treatment methods.
- The Roman scientist Celsus used special hooks to fight pathology (it is interesting that the devices are still used for modern treatment of varicose veins, especially with miniphlebectomy).
- As for China, it was customary to fight diseased blood vessels with the help of leech, acupuncture and cauterization.
- In Japan, special attention was paid to conservative treatment.
- It is not for nothing that the Middle Ages are called "dark", because in Europe there were many prohibitions on operations ("interference in the affairs of God"), and the affected veins, as a rule, were simply burned.
- At the same time, medicine was actively developing in the Middle East - for example, the famous doctor Avicenna closed diseased veins (today mainly used for prevention or rehabilitation) with a tight bandage.
- Renaissance, New Age - all these are times of discoveries, including in medicine. Doctors are increasingly studying the principles of venous circulation. Scientists have developed various surgical techniques, some of which are still used today, and new methods of sterile vein ligation are being created.
In the 20th century, the laser procedure began to be studied and new, more effective treatment methods were created. This process is still going on without stopping even for a minute. Of course, now the treatment of varicose veins is significantly different from ancient times.
Modern methods of treatment of varicose veins
The newest methods of treating varicose veins are various types of obliteration and coagulation - these are the least traumatic manipulations. Let's consider in more detail some types of modern methods of combating varicose veins.
Endovenous laser coagulation
Often you can find the abbreviated name of this method - EVLC. The principle of operation is as follows: a laser light guide that heats the blood is placed in the cavity of the diseased vessel. As a result, the vessels are closed and for some time the vessel turns into connective tissue. The process itself lasts 20-30 minutes, after which you may only need to wear special knitwear for 40-60 minutes. Additional conservative and compressive treatment is prescribed by the doctor based on the medical history. This procedure can be performed on both lower extremities.
The advantages of this modern method for the treatment of varicose veins are as follows:
- duration - only 20-30 minutes;
- manipulation does not require cutting, applying or removing sutures, as the procedure is performed through a puncture;
- painlessness (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 the intervention.
However, the treatment method also has contraindications, including:
- obesity in the legs;
- blood coagulation disorder;
- an extreme stage of the disease, for example, a clear expansion of the vessel, which may require surgery or combination therapy;
- severe atherosclerosis of the vessels of the lower extremities, which requires a special approach;
- Intolerance to anesthetic drugs used in EVLT;
- pregnancy and lactation period;
- deep vein thrombosis in the acute stage;
- inflammation at the site of the lesion;
In addition, EVLT is usually not prescribed if the patient cannot actively move after the manipulation or if he has a disease that makes it impossible to wear special socks to prevent bruising or any complications.
Obliteration of radio frequencies
Another non-surgical modern treatment for varicose veins is radiofrequency obliteration, or RFO. The treatment is carried out using a radio frequency generator. Thus, sound waves enter through a special catheter with radiation, which heats and then narrows the walls of the vessel.
It should be noted that the vein is completely closed, after the procedure it is enough to treat the manipulation site with an antiseptic and apply a sterile dressing. The peculiarity of this method is that the procedure can be prescribed not only for varicose veins, but also for heart and kidney diseases.
RFO has the following advantages:
- painlessness (local anesthesia is used during application), as well as safety;
- duration does not exceed 40 minutes;
- visible results only after 7 days;
- minimal trauma, excellent aesthetic appearance;
- complete "sticking" of blood vessels;
- high efficiency;
- the possibility of using 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;
- vascular thrombosis;
- severe atherosclerosis of the vessels of the lower extremities - as already indicated, this pathology requires surgical intervention;
- allergic reaction to anesthetics to be used during the procedure.
In addition, a contraindication is a condition in which the patient has a pathology that prohibits wearing compression stockings.
Destruction of steam
This method is one of the newest methods in the history of medicine. "Steam injection" combines EVLT and RFO. It is the least invasive compared to the others and is considered the most versatile today. As with the procedures described above, vapor elimination does not require additional hospitalization.
The most pleasant advantage of the method is the possibility of its use at any stage - very deep veins can be treated with this type of intervention. The fact is that the steam enters the veins very quickly and without any special obstacles, filling any bends in the veins.
The principle of the method is as follows: water under pressure is injected into a pipe heated by electric current, and thus the water changes its structure, turns into steam, it enters the vessel, where it turns into water again; and the vessel walls absorb the heat generated as a result of such a simple manipulation.
Like the procedures described above, this manipulation does not take long. The patient recovers quickly and can return to normal life after completing the procedure and wearing compression stockings for 30-40 minutes.
Mechanochemical obliteration
It combines mechanical action on the walls of blood vessels and treatment of the patient with chemical substances. After a small puncture, a special catheter is placed at the site of the lesion. With its help, a device is introduced that damages the walls of blood vessels and thereby seals them. Manipulation is performed on the inner surface of the vein and therefore does not require the use of anesthetics. At the end of the procedure, the puncture site is covered with a sterile bandage or napkin. In addition, the patient should wear compression stockings for 30-40 minutes.
Since obliteration does not require anesthesia, this method can be indicated if the patient has an intolerance to anesthetics. It is also recommended for people with a low pain threshold. In addition, this procedure can be performed if the patient has trophic ulcers.
Fast rehabilitation, the possibility to return to a normal lifestyle as soon as possible, minimal restrictions during the recovery period - all these are the advantages of the above method of therapy. The advantage of mechanochemical obliteration is the reduced risk of infection due to minimal trauma.
Adhesive obliteration
Another procedure that may be recommended for patients with varicose veins is called adhesive obliteration. It is noteworthy that after the manipulation, there is no need to wear special knitwear.
Like the other methods described above, this method does not require incisions: a special glue is injected into the lumen of the diseased vessel, which seals the inner walls and directs blood circulation through healthy vessels.
This method of therapy can be prescribed to patients with a complication of varicose veins (as a rule, it is clearly visible in the lower leg). The intervention is also carried out for patients with a large diameter of the affected vessels (unlike the methods described above).
Which of the modern methods of treating varicose veins is the most effective?
All of the above methods for the treatment of varicose veins are highly effective, but each of them has its own characteristics, where a special procedure is recommended for a particular patient. If a person has a contraindication for wearing compression stockings and / or has some complications from varicose veins, he will be prescribed adhesive obliteration. If there is a possible allergic reaction to any anesthesia, a qualified specialist can prescribe mechanochemical obliteration.
Also, the criteria for choosing the most suitable method for the treatment of varicose veins are as follows:
- Safety, absence of unwanted reactions.
- Efficiency.
- Result retention period.
The last point is worth talking about separately, because this criterion is very indicative of one of the analyzes based on the results of 119 studies comparing RF, surgery, sclerotherapy and EVLT.
As a result, these results (in percentages) show that:
- 5 years after the procedure, the efficiency of EVLT increases from 92. 9 to 95. 4. Compared to RFO, the effectiveness of this method decreases from 88. 9 to 79. 9 within 5 years.
- As for the results of surgical intervention, the effectiveness of this method decreases from 80. 4 to 75. 7 within 5 years. In the latter case, you can also see that the effectiveness of sclerotherapy has decreased from 82. 1 to 73. 5 over 5 years, but procedures such as surgery, for example, are usually prescribed when more effective methods of treatment cannot be used. varicose veins.
From the research, we can clearly conclude that EVLT is the most progressive and effective method of treating varicose veins today, because, unlike other compared methods, its effectiveness increases over time and not vice versa. It should be noted that the clinics perform all the procedures described in the article that can help the patient in the treatment of varicose veins.