Timing of varicose vein treatment in the lower extremities

  Varicose veins in the lower extremities have a high prevalence in the population. The main pathogenesis of varicose veins in the lower extremities is the incomplete closure of the valves in the deep veins of the lower extremities, which leads to backflow of blood and increases the pressure in the veins, causing the veins to dilate and twist over time, which is called varicose veins. The incidence of varicose veins is higher in the left lower extremity than in the right lower extremity. Varicose veins tend to occur first in low places, such as the lower legs.  Varicose veins can develop for several years, or even more than a decade, without obvious clinical symptoms. But this does not mean that varicose veins are not harmful. When the disease progresses to a certain extent, complications such as intravenous thrombosis, sterile inflammation (phlebitis), hyperpigmentation, ulceration, bruising dermatitis, rupture and bleeding can occur. The past concept is that asymptomatic varicose veins or elderly patients can be treated first with conservative treatment, including medication or compression stockings. This view has certain universality, which is based on the consideration of large surgical trauma, heavy economic burden, and the risk of surgery at the patient’s advanced age, and also has certain reason, however, medical development today, for varicose veins is “early surgery or first conservative treatment is good?” The answer to this question has undergone a subtle change. More and more varicose vein patients are opting for early minimally invasive surgical treatment. The popular treatments are conventional stripping of the saphenous vein, laser closure, radiofrequency closure, and sclerotherapy closure.  First of all, drugs and compression stockings as the main means of conservative treatment of varicose veins can only delay the progression of the disease but not treat the root cause of varicose veins.  Therefore, drugs can only be used as an auxiliary treatment after varicose vein surgery in the lower extremities. Although the effect of elastic stockings is exact, they need to be worn for life, and they are troublesome and expensive to use. At present, the vast majority of patients who initially wear compression stockings eventually opt for surgery. So. Since surgery is required in the end, the time and effort spent on conservative treatment is wasted. Advances in medicine have also made surgery for varicose veins in the lower extremities increasingly minimally invasive. The adoption of minimally invasive surgery has shortened the hospital stay that used to take a week to within two days. One of the consequences of the development of varicose veins is that as the blood from the deep veins flows back into the openings of the diseased saphenous veins, it flows backwards into the superficial venous system, creating an ineffective circulation that aggravates the burden on the deep veins and, over time, causes or aggravates the degree of deep venous valvulopathy. The severity of deep vein lesions is an important factor in the chance of recurrence after varicose vein surgery. Once the condition reaches venous thrombophlebitis, edema, hyperpigmentation, bruising dermatitis or ulcers, the effect of surgery is greatly reduced. For example, surgery does not eliminate the darkening of the skin, it is very ineffective for edema, and it is less than 80% effective for bruising dermatitis. Phlebitis also takes a long time to subside in older patients as they age and their general condition deteriorates. If they do not undergo minimally invasive surgery early on and later develop complications from varicose veins, they often cannot be treated because they cannot tolerate surgery.  The disadvantages of conservative treatment of varicose veins are: 1) side effects of medications; 2) reduced quality of life with compression stockings (e.g. too hot in summer, hard to wear, need to buy new stockings every 6 months); 3) risk of progression of the disease and loss of the opportunity to choose minimally invasive surgery.  4.Once complications occur, the recurrence rate and failure rate of surgery increases significantly.  5.Lose the purpose of cosmetic leg after surgery Although varicose vein surgery has a certain recurrence rate, even if recurrence happens, it is much better than complications without surgery. However, most of the recurrences are related to the clinical experience and technique of the surgeon.  In conclusion therefore, to avoid these complications mentioned above, the best option is to address the varicose veins surgically early before the complications appear. Some studies have reported that traditional surgery for varicose veins has a better long-term prognosis. In today’s world of new technologies, it is especially important to choose the treatment method wisely. Over-emphasis on minimally invasive will surely go astray. Choosing an experienced vascular surgeon to perform the surgery is a prerequisite. Because, a doctor who lacks experience in varicose vein surgery has a lot of post-operative complications.  Although varicose vein surgery has a also been reported in a study: traditional surgery for varicose veins has a better long-term prognosis. So it is especially important to choose the treatment method wisely. There is an overemphasis on minimally invasive, definite recurrence rates, but even if recurrence occurs, it is much better than if complications occur without surgery. However, most recurrences are related to the clinical experience and skill of the surgeon.   Please note that once the condition reaches venous thrombophilia, edema, hyperpigmentation, bruising dermatitis, or ulcers, the effectiveness of surgery is greatly reduced in older patients as they age and their general condition deteriorates. If they do not undergo minimally invasive surgery early on and complications of varicose veins occur later, they often cannot be treated because they cannot tolerate surgery. Discounts. For example, surgery does not eliminate the darkening of the skin, surgery is very ineffective for edema, and surgery is less than 80% effective for bruising dermatitis. Phlebitis also takes a long time to subside.