There are two main methods of treating varicose veins:
- conservative,
- operational.
The type of treatment depends on the stage of the disease.In patients with small caliber lesions in the form of vascular nets or stars on the legs, as well as with isolated local lesions of some subcutaneous veins, non -surgical methods are used.
In the case of damage to large trunks of subcutaneous veins, such as a large or small subcutaneous vein, as well as their large tributaries on the thigh and lower leg, operational methods are used.
In what cases can varicose veins be treated conservatively?
Any form of varicose veins requires conservative treatment.In the case when large subcutaneous veins are not affected, but there is only a disease of small veins on the skin in the form of vascular nets or asterisks, a conservative approach in treatment is the main one.If the disease affects larger subcutaneous veins, then conservative treatment is used as an addition to an operational manual.
Features of conservative treatment of varicose veins
Conservative treatment of varicose veins includes the following components:
- Drug therapy.
- Modification of risk factors for varicose veins.
- Wearing compression knitwear or the use of elastic bandages.
- Sclerotherapy.
How to deal with the risk factors of varicose veins?
Treatment of varicose veins should begin to eliminate the risk factors of the disease:
- The fight against hypodynamia is classes of mobile sports, such as swimming, bicycle, running, sports walking, skiing, etc.
- elevated position of the legs during rest
- body weight control
- Refusal of static loads, heavy physical labor, frequent exposure to high temperatures - visiting the sauna, taking hot baths.
- Refusal to take hormonal contraceptives
- Refusal to wear high-heeled shoes (more than 5-6 cm)
Compression knitwear
Wearing compression knitwear or the use of elastic bandages during static loads, i.e.With a long stay in the standing or sitting position, it is an integral part of the treatment of varicose veins.You should choose compression linen, since many patients inadequately apply an elastic bandage, pulling it at different levels or vice versa.
Compression knitwear is selected individually and have a level of compression in them by the manufacturer, the most physiological for the limb.Medical compression products (tights, stockings, golfs) have several compression classes.The type of compression is determined by the doctor by the results of the patient’s examination and, if necessary, instrumental examination.
- Grade I is used to prevent varicose veins,
- II - with existing signs of the disease,
- III - in cases of complicated varicose veins (trophic ulcer, hyperpigmentation).
The only significant restriction in the use of compression knitwear is difficulties in dressing it.Therefore, to facilitate the process of dressing knitwear, it is advisable to use a special device - Butler.In the event that compression knitwear is difficult to choose by the diameter of the limb (non -standard leg configuration) or there are other restrictions in its use - it is necessary to use elastic bandages of medium or short degree of stretch.
Drug therapy of varicose veins
Patients suffering from varicose veins are recommended to regularly conduct preventive courses with drugs.These drugs are used at least 1 year per year 2-3 months.In the summer.Drug therapy does not heal the patient from already developed varicose veins, however, it allows you to reduce patient complaints about the feeling of severity and fatigue in the legs, their swelling.
Preparations also reduce the pace of progression of the disease, i.e.The development of the further development of varicose veins slows down, protecting healthy veins.The most effective treatment is to take drugs inside in the form of tablets, capsules or drops.The use of drugs is less effective in the form of gels, ointments, creams or aerosols, however, local use allows you to reduce the symptoms of the disease at once at the time of their use and therefore are often used as first aid when expressed discomfort, a sense of severity or fatigue in the legs.
Sclerotherapy for varicose veins
Sclerotherapy is a method of treating varicose veins, in which a special medicine is administered into the lumen of varicose veins.
After introducing it into the vessel, its stacks stick together, leading to the “turn off” the vessel, i.e.Carpeting varicose veins occurs.As a result, the blood is redirected to healthy vessels, and the glued veins “turn off” from the bloodstream.
Sclerotherapy is an outpatient procedure that can be carried out without hospitalization of the patient in a hospital.After each session of sclerotherapy, it is necessary to wear compression knitwear or elastic bandages for several days or weeks.In the case of large veins damage, sclerotherapy does not give a reliable long -term result, and glued veins often appear again.In patients with damage to only small venous vessels, on the contrary, this technique is very effective.Therefore, it is most often used for the so -called “intradermal varicose”, when only small -diameter veins, manifested by a vascular mesh or stars on the skin, are affected.
Complications after sclerotherapy
Complications after sclerotherapy are extremely rare (less than 1%).The main type of complications is the darkening of the skin in the area of treatment.which can be saved for several months, and in some cases forever.Other, more rare complications are possible - skin necrosis, etc.