Previously, if the conservative treatment of varicose veins did not bring the expected results or the complications posed a serious risk to the patient's health, doctors prescribed surgery. In this case, the affected vein was completely removed, and after the operation, scars remained on the skin. Modern medicine allows, in some cases, to replace an outdated operation with more advanced laser therapy.
The essence of the impact is that a laser beam of a certain wavelength is directed at the dilated vein. Blood cells convert the incoming impulse into heat energy, as a result of which the affected vein is sealed, so to speak, and blood begins to flow through deeper healthy pathways.
At the same time, all adjacent tissues remain unharmed, since the laser beam acts selectively, and the area of the body on which the manipulation was performed does not subsequently cause discomfort due to the deactivated vein.
Varicose vein laser surgery 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. The procedure is performed without direct contact with the skin and the result is no different from the other type of procedure, but in this case the vein should not exceed 3 mm in diameter.
Endovascular laser coagulation (EVLK) is more often used, in Europe this procedure has become a priority method of treatment, and the surgical treatment of varicose veins is gradually relegated to the background. EVLK involves a microscopic skin incision through which a light guide is inserted into the damaged vein. This feature makes it possible to "stick" freely any dilated vein not exceeding 1 cm in diameter. The whole process is under the control of ultrasound diagnostics, so the risk of medical error is minimal.
Negative reviews about laser coagulation of veins are most often left by people who trusted an inexperienced doctor or ignored the advice of a specialist.
Indications and contraindications
Any procedure has indications and contraindications, which the attending physician should tell about. In the case of treatment of varicose veins of the legs with laser coagulation, the specialist should carefully check the prerequisites for the procedure.
First, the vein must be enlarged at the level of the mouth by no more than 10 mm, otherwise the therapy will be useless and the problem will soon return.
Second, the vein must have a smooth course from the trunk so that the light guide can pass through it freely from start to finish.
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:
- tendency to thrombophlebitis;
- any chronic disease in the acute stage;
- pathology of blood circulation;
- venous expansion greater than 1 cm;
- inflammatory processes in the affected area;
- infectious diseases accompanied by high body temperature;
- low patient mobility for health reasons.
If you ignore the existing contraindications, there may be negative consequences that will be much more difficult to eliminate. For the procedure to be successful, you need to contact only a specialized medical institution, which employs experienced and responsible specialists.
How does the procedure take place
During a preliminary consultation with a 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. After that, tests are prescribed and if no contraindications are found, the date of the session is announced.
There is no specialized preparation for laser coagulation, but the patient should follow some specialized recommendations:
- loose, comfortable clothes and shoes should be worn, especially in the last days before the scheduled date;
- a few days before the procedure, you need to stop taking drugs that affect blood viscosity.
At the first stage, the phlebologist, together with an ultrasound diagnostic specialist, marks and marks the location of the entire part of the vein affected by varicose veins on 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 often twisted and involved in a long section, marking may take longer.
The second stage is the use of local anesthesia, which is most often used as novocaine, if the patient is not allergic to it. The doctor, under the control of an ultrasound device, carefully cuts the affected vein without damaging it. This step is very important, as it not only anesthetizes the procedure, but also prevents the laser beam from affecting nearby tissues.
The removal of varicose veins with laser begins with the choice of a mode of radiation suitable for the patient by the phlebologist. After that, a small incision is made, through which a light guide is brought into the vein if endovascular coagulation is performed, or the laser acts superficially if the percutaneous method is chosen. Using an ultrasound device, the phlebologist controls the process and moves the source of the laser beam along the entire length of the dilated vein.
After the laser treatment of the veins of the lower extremities, you will have to wear compression underwear for two weeks, and in the first days after the intervention, not only during the day, but also at night. In addition, immediately after exposure and thereafter for two weeks, you will need to take walks of at least 30 minutes.
Consequences of therapy
In most cases, varicose veins in the legs and other parts of the body lend themselves to laser coagulation without side effects or relapses. At first, the patient may feel discomfort, pain or other discomfort in the affected area, bruising may also appear, but this gradually disappears. Otherwise, you will need the help of a doctor.
If the course of laser treatment of varicose veins on the legs and other parts of the body was interrupted, or the patient neglected the advice of a specialist, more serious complications may occur. The most harmless of them is the penetration of infection through an open wound, which is treated with antibiotics. A more serious complication is the occurrence of thrombus of superficial or deep veins, which is treated only surgically.