Varicose veins are a disease that affects about a third of the world's population, which is quite a lot. In this sense, the therapy of this pathology requires modern and effective solutions.
Medicine is developing, modern methods of treating varicose veins are emerging that are less traumatic and invasive, which contributes to the rapid rehabilitation of the patient. Such procedures are performed in clinics.
How were varicose veins treated in the past?
The problem of varicose veins has followed humanity since the moment when (a man) became erect. It is known that not a single species of other mammals suffers from this pathology, so people have been struggling with it for a long time, for example:
- A cave painting depicting people with bandaged feet has been found in the Sahara desert, and the painting is approximately 5, 000 years old.
- In the found medical manuscripts of Egypt, there is information that it is not necessary to touch dilated veins under the skin, but many healers still experimented on the pharaoh's wives - they burned diseased veins.
- The Indians of Central and South America 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 important to note that the first of these doctors developed both conservative and surgical methods of treatment.
- The Roman scientist Celsus used special hooks to fight pathology (it is interesting that the devices are still used today for the modern treatment of varicose veins, especially miniphlebectomy).
- As for China, it was common 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 for nothing that the Middle Ages are called "dark", because in Europe there were many prohibitions related to operations ("interference in God's affairs"), and the affected veins were, as a rule, simply cauterized.
- At the same time, medicine was actively developing in the Middle East - for example, the famous doctor Avicenna tightly tied diseased vessels (which is used today mainly for prevention or rehabilitation).
- The Renaissance, the New Age - it's all a period of discovery, including medicine. Doctors are increasingly studying the principles of venous circulation. Scientists are developing different surgical methods, some of which are still used today, and new methods of sterile vein ligation are also being created.
In the 20th century, the laser procedure began to be studied and new, more effective treatment methods were created. This process continues, without stopping even for a minute. Of course, the way in which varicose veins are treated today is significantly different from that in ancient times.
Modern methods of treatment of varicose veins
The latest methods of treating varicose veins are obliteration and coagulation of various types - these are the least traumatic manipulations. 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 fiber is placed in the cavity of the diseased vein, which heats the blood. As a result, the vessels are sealed, and the vein turns into connective tissue for a while. The process itself takes 20-30 minutes, after which you may only need 40-60 minutes to wear a special knitwear. Further conservative and compressive treatment is determined by the doctor based on the medical history. This procedure can be performed on both lower extremities.
The advantages of this modern method of treating varicose veins are:
- duration – only 20-30 minutes;
- the manipulation does not require cutting, applying or removing stitches, because the procedure is carried out through a puncture;
- painlessness (performed 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 clotting disorder;
- an extreme stage of the disease, for example, a pronounced expansion of the vein, which may require surgery or combined therapy;
- severe atherosclerosis of the arteries of the lower extremities, 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 actively move after the manipulation or if he has a disease that makes it impossible to wear special stockings to prevent bruising or any complications.
Radio frequency obliteration
Another non-surgical modern type of treatment for varicose veins is radiofrequency obliteration or RFO. The treatment is carried out using a radiofrequency generator. Thus, sound waves enter through a special catheter with radiation, which heats and then narrows the walls of the vessel.
It is worth noting that the vein is completely sealed, after the procedure it is enough to treat the place of manipulation with an antiseptic and apply a sterile bandage. The specialty of this method is that the procedure can be prescribed for diseases of the heart and kidneys, and not only for varicose veins.
RFO has the following advantages:
- painlessness (local anesthesia is used during application), as well as safety;
- duration no longer than 40 minutes;
- visible results after only 7 days;
- minimal trauma, excellent aesthetic appearance;
- complete "adhesion" 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 for using this procedure. Among them:
- inflammatory process at the site of the lesion;
- infectious and viral pathologies;
- pregnancy and breastfeeding;
- venous thrombosis;
- severe atherosclerosis of the arteries of the lower extremities - as already indicated, this pathology requires surgical intervention;
- allergic reaction to anesthetics that will be used during the procedure.
In addition, a contraindication is the circumstance when the patient has a pathology that prohibits him from wearing compression stockings.
Steam obliteration
This method is one of the newest in the history of medicine. The so-called "steam injection" combines EVLT and RFO. It is the least invasive - compared to the others - and today is considered the most versatile of all. As with the procedures described above, steam obliteration does not require additional hospitalization.
The most pleasant advantage of the method is the possibility of its application at any stage - very deep veins can be treated with this type of intervention. The fact is that the steam penetrates the vessels very quickly and without special obstacles, filling all the bends in the veins.
The principle of the method is as follows: water is pumped under pressure into a tube, which is heated by electric current, and thus the water changes its structure, turning into steam, which enters the container, where it turns into water again, while the vascular walls absorb the heat created by such a simplemanipulation.
Like the procedures described above, this manipulation also does not take 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 obliteration
It combines mechanical action 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. The 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 injection site is covered with a sterile bandage or napkin. In addition, the patient must wear compression stockings for 30-40 minutes.
Since obliteration does not require anesthesia, this method may be indicated if the patient does not tolerate 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 in the recovery period - these are all advantages of the above-mentioned 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 significant in that after the end of 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 closes the inner walls and redirects blood circulation through healthy veins.
This method of therapy can be prescribed to patients who have a complication of varicose veins (as a rule, it is clearly visible on the lower leg). The intervention is also performed in patients with a large diameter of the affected veins (unlike the methods described above).
Which of the modern methods of treating varicose veins is the most effective?
All of the above methods of treating varicose veins are very effective, but each of them has its own characteristics, in which a specific procedure is recommended for a specific patient. If a person is contraindicated for wearing compression stockings, and/or has complications from varicose veins, he will be prescribed adhesive obliteration. If there is a possible allergic reaction to any anesthetic, a qualified specialist can prescribe mechanochemical obliteration.
Also, the criteria for choosing the most appropriate method of treating varicose veins are as follows:
- Safety, absence of unwanted reactions.
- Efficiency.
- Duration of storage of results.
The last point is worth talking about in particular, since 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 (indicators in percentages) show that:
- 5 years after the procedure, the efficiency of EVLT increases from 92. 9 to 95. 4. Compared to RFO, the efficiency of this method decreases over 5 years from 88. 9 to 79. 9.
- As for the results of surgical intervention, the effectiveness of this method decreases from 80. 4 to 75. 7 over 5 years. In the latter case, over 5 years, a decrease in the effectiveness of sclerotherapy can be observed 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, it can be clearly concluded that today the most progressive and effective method of treating varicose veins is EVLT, since, unlike other methods with which the comparison was made, its effectiveness increases over time, and not the other way around, it decreases. It is worth noting that the clinics carry out all the procedures mentioned in the article that can help the patient in the treatment of varicose veins.