About The Procedure Of Varicose Vein Stripping

Why Is Varicose Vein Stripping Done?

Varicose vein stripping is done, as are other varicose vein removal techniques, for the following reasons. It is mostly for severe cases. As always, weigh the benefits and risks with your doctor, and explore all of your possible treatment options.

With varicose veins, along with the swollen and sometimes discolored vein, can come aching pain, easily tired legs, leg heaviness, leg swelling, skin darkening, leg numbness and a rash or itchiness in the legs.

Varicose veins usually get larger and worse over time and can create some severe health problems. In major cases of venous insufficiency, the pooled blood doesn't get to the heart as quickly as it should, thus causing blood clots and infections. A blood clot can travel to the lungs and become life threatening. The skin tissue around a varicose vein can get sores or skin ulcers. Also, swelling, irritation and painful rashes are problems.

How Is Varicose Vein Stripping Done?

Not all cases of varicose veins are the same. Doctors can take x-rays or ultrasound images of the vein to better see what the severity of the case is. A specialist in vein diseases or phlebology may be recommended.

There are three types of actual surgeries that can be done on very severe varicose veins. One is surgical ligation and stripping, which means the vein is sealed off and completely removed. Ambulatory phlebectomy is the second type of surgery. Here, a special light source marks the location of the vein, small incisions are made in the skin and surgical hooks remove the vein. Last is endoscopic vein surgery, where a small camera is used to see inside the vein and then the vein is removed through small incisions. In all of these procedures, the vein is completely removed in similar manners.

Varicose vein stripping is done under general anesthetic and usually requires a hospital stay of one night. A small incision is made at the groin area and a special wire is run inside the vein, down to either the calf or ankle area. Another incision is made in that area and the vein is tied to the wire and pulled completely out of the leg at the lower incision point. The two incisions require stitches and the leg will have pressure dressings. The pressure dressings will remain on the leg for a few days and the patient may be required to wear elastic stockings for the full recovery period, which is approximately two weeks.

As with any surgical procedure, there are risks. They include allergic reaction to anesthetic or medications, post-op bleeding, deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, nerve injury or infection. Weigh the benefits and risks with your doctor.

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