Previously, if conservative treatment of varicose veins did not bring the desired result, or complications posed a serious risk to the health of the patient, the doctor prescribed surgery. In this case, the affected vein has been completely removed, and after surgery, the scar remains on the skin. Modern medicine allows, in some cases, to replace outdated surgery with more advanced laser therapy.
The essence of the effect is that a laser beam with a certain wavelength is directed into the dilated vein. Blood cells convert incoming impulses into heat energy, as a result of which the affected veins are sealed, as it were, and blood begins to circulate through a healthier pathway.
At the same time, all adjacent tissues remain uninjured, because the laser beam acts selectively, and the area of the body where the manipulation is performed does not subsequently cause discomfort due to the deformed vein.
Laser surgery for varicose veins is divided into two types, which are used in different situations. Percutaneous laser correction is used in most cases for the treatment of venous mesh, which can be called an early stage in the development of varicose veins. This procedure is performed without direct contact with the skin, and the result is no different from other types of procedures, but in this case, the vein should not exceed 3 mm in diameter.
Endovasal laser coagulation (EVLK) is used more frequently, in Europe this procedure has become the preferred method of therapy, and surgical treatment of varicose veins is gradually relegated to the background. EVLK involves a microscopic incision of skin through which a light guide is inserted into a damaged vein. This feature allows you to freely "stick" to any dilated vein that does not exceed 1 cm in diameter. The entire process is under ultrasound diagnostic control, so the risk of medical error is minimal.
Negative reviews about vein laser coagulation are most often left by people who trust inexperienced doctors or ignore expert advice.
Indications and contraindications
Any procedure has indications and contraindications, which should be informed by the attending physician. In the case of treatment of varicose veins in the legs with laser coagulation, the specialist must carefully examine the prerequisites for the procedure.
First, the vein must be expanded in the mouth no more than 10 mm, otherwise the therapy will be in vain, and the problem will return soon.
Second, the vein must have a smooth passage of the stem so that the light guide can freely pass through it from beginning to end.
Third, there should not be too many varicose veins.
Before starting laser treatment, it is necessary to take into account the existing contraindications to the procedure:
- predisposition to thrombophlebitis;
- any chronic disease in the acute stage;
- circulatory pathology;
- vein expansion more than 1 cm;
- inflammatory processes in the affected area;
- infectious diseases accompanied by high body temperature;
- low mobility of patients for health reasons.
If you ignore the existing contraindications, there may be negative consequences that will be more difficult to eliminate. For the procedure to be successful, you need to contact only specialized medical institutions, which employ experienced and responsible specialists.
How is the procedure
At an initial consultation with the doctor, the patient answers all the necessary questions and undergoes an examination so that the specialist can decide whether laser treatment of varicose veins will help in this case, and whether it is necessary at all. After that, a test is set, and if no contraindications are found, a session date is announced.
There are no specific preparations for laser coagulation, but patients must follow the recommendations of certain specialists:
- loose and comfortable clothing and footwear should be worn, especially in the last days before the appointed date;
- a few days before the procedure, you should stop taking medications that affect blood viscosity.
In the first stage, the phlebologist, along with a specialist in ultrasound diagnostics, marks and marks the location of the entire portion of the vein affected by the varicose veins in the affected area of the patient’s body. This step can vary in length: if the vein is straight and short, the process will only take a few minutes, and if it is frequently twisted and involved in long sections, the marking may take longer.
The second stage is the use of local anesthesia, most often used as Novocaine, if the patient is not allergic to it. The doctor, under the control of an ultrasound machine, carefully cuts the affected vein without damaging it. This level is very important, as it not only anesthes the procedure, but also prevents the laser beam from affecting nearby tissues.
Laser varicose vein removal begins with the selection of the appropriate radiation mode for the patient by a phlebologist. Thereafter, a small incision is made, in which a light guide is brought to the vein if endovasal coagulation is performed, or a laser acts superficially if the percutaneous method is chosen. With the help of an ultrasound machine, the phlebologist controls the process and moves the laser beam source along the entire dilated vein.
After laser treatment on the veins of the lower legs, you need to wear compression underwear for two weeks, and in the first days after the procedure, not only during the day, but also at night. Also, immediately after exposure and subsequently for two weeks, you should take a walk for at least 30 minutes.
As a result of therapy
In most cases, varicose veins in the legs and other parts of the body can receive laser coagulation without side effects and recurrence. Initially, the patient may feel discomfort, pain or other discomfort in the affected area, bruising may also appear, but this gradually disappears. If not, you need the help of a doctor.
If the course of laser treatment of varicose veins on the legs and other parts of the body is interrupted, or the patient ignores expert advice, more serious complications may occur. The least dangerous of them is the penetration of infection through open wounds, which are treated with antibiotics. A more serious complication is the occurrence of superficial or deep vein thrombus, which is treated only surgically.