What are Varicose Veins?

Millions of people in our country suffering from venous disease, however, it is largely ignored by us. Lack of patient education seems to be the main reason that venous disease is not taken seriously. Many patients do not understand the importance of the symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency or DVT. Many patients believe that these symptoms are just a normal part of aging and are purely a cosmetic problem. So, they do not seek medical help or even mention it to their doctors.With increasing education and public awareness, more patients will be treated for venous disease in the years to come.

You may have treatable venous insufficiency if you have these symptoms

  • Swelling of Lower extremity – worsens as the day progresses.
  • Leg fatigue, pain and heaviness – That improves when the legs are elevated
  • Skin discoloration or hard leathery skin, especially near the lower legs and ankles
  • Varicose veins
  • Cramps, especially at night
  • Restless legs
  • Flaking or itching skin on the legs
  • Venous ulcer
Symptoms-of-varicose-veins

Causes of Varicose Veins

Weak or damaged valves can lead to varicose veins. Arteries carry blood from the heart to the rest of the body. Veins return blood from the rest of the body to the heart. To return blood to the heart, the veins in the legs must work against gravity. Muscle contractions in the lower legs act as pumps, and elastic vein walls help blood return to the heart. Tiny valves in the veins open as blood flows toward the heart, then close to stop blood from flowing backward. If these valves are weak or damaged, blood can flow backward and pool in the veins, causing the veins to stretch or twist.

Causes-of-varicose-veins

Stages of the Disease for varicose veins?

  1. Spider Veins: Small, thin veins visible on the surface of the skin.
  2. Varicose Veins: Larger, bulging veins that can cause discomfort.
  3. Edema: Swelling in the legs and ankles due to fluid buildup.
  4. Skin Changes: Skin may become discolored, dry, or itchy.
  5. Ulcers: In severe cases, ulcers can form on the skin near the varicose veins.
Stages-of-varicose-veins

What tests are there to investigate varicose veins?

The basic aim of examination in varicose veins is to find out:

  1. Which valves are leaky, and
  2. What is the condition of the deep veins
  3. The treatment is entirely based on the answers to these questions.
  4. The easiest way to answer these questions is by a Colour Doppler Ultrasound.

In a few cases, more information is needed after a colour Doppler, and in such case a CT or an MRI may be necessary. Very rarely a Venogram is required with injection of contrast in to the leg veins. This is done on a special X-Ray machine and requires a needle puncture.

Risk factors for varicose veins?

  • Family history: If other family members had varicose veins, there's a greater chance you will too.
  • Gender: Women are more likely to develop the condition.
  • Age: The risk of varicose veins increases with age.
  • Lifestyle: Lack of movement can increase the risk.

Painful varicose veins can lead to serious health risks

Multiple episodes of superficial thrombophlebitis – presents as a painful, red, and palpable cord that runs along the medial thigh or back of the leg. However most patients in our country are unaware and don’t know that these enlarged veins, if left untreated, may cause painful symptoms including bruising, burning, throbbing and it may also lead to life threatening situations like deep vein thrombosis, heavy bleeding from ruptured varicose veins and non healing venous ulcers- affecting quality of life. Our patients usually come for treatment at a very late stage with symptoms of massive bleeding from leg or ulcer formation. LASER or RFA are very successful treatment options available nowadays and the chance of recurrence is almost nil. Entire procedure takes about 30 to 40 minutes. Patient starts walking immediately as we do RF Ablation under local anesthesia & patient can resume daily activities from next day. Daily walking & light exercises should be undertaken. Never massage or and avoid squeezing of legs post varicose vein treatment. Use custom made graded pressure venous stockings to support the legs. Legs should be slightly elevated while sleeping. After successful treatment of varicose vein, patient experience a pulling sensation along the vein, as the vein starts shrinking lengthwise. If proper postoperative leg exercises are continued then there is almost total recovery of these symptoms.

How to Prevent Varicose Veins

  • Walking is a great way to encourage blood circulation in your legs
  • Maintain a healthy weight to avoid putting pressure on your veins
  • Take breaks to elevate your legs above the level of your heart
  • Avoid long periods of standing or sitting, change your position frequently to keep blood flowing
How-to-prevent-varicose-veins
advantages-of-treatment

Advantages of the Treatment

  • Relief from pain and discomfort
  • Improved appearance of your legss
  • Reduced risk of complications like ulcers or blood clots
  • Enhanced quality of life with better mobility and confidence

Are there any other treatments for varicose veins?

  • Ambulatory phlebectomy and injection sclerotherapy are also used. Ambulatory phlebectomy is a minimally invasive surgical technique used to treat varicose veins that are not caused by saphenous vein reflux. The abnormal vein is removed through a tiny incision using a special set of tools.
  • Injection sclerotherapy can also be used to treat some varicose and nearly all spider veins. An extremely fine needle is used to inject the vein with a solution which shrinks the vein.
  • These procedures are quick, effective and allow return to normal activity immediately.

Why Choose an Interventional Radiologist in Kolkata?

If you are experiencing symptoms of varicose veins, it is essential to consult with a specialist. An interventional radiologist in Kolkata can assess your condition and recommend the most appropriate treatment options. Varicose veins treatment in India, particularly with an interventional radiologist in Kolkata, offers advanced and effective options for managing this condition. Interventional radiology in Kolkata and India is at the forefront of providing minimally invasive treatments, ensuring patients receive the best care possible. Be active, break the connection between a sedentary lifestyle and varicose veins, and enjoy healthier, pain-free legs.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Get the Answers You Need About Your Care and Treatment Options

― Varicose veins is a frequently occurring condition with up to 10-15 % of the women and men getting affected with symptoms of pain and swelling of the lower limbs, enlarged blue or purple veins on the thigh or calf.

― Varicose veins are veins with damage in the return pump valve. Standing for a long period does not cause varicose veins per se, but hastens the deterioration of malfunctioning valves and thus the development of varicose veins.

― Naturally, if the valves are not working properly then the effect will be varicosities and their accompanying problems like leg aching, eczema, lipodermatosclersis, cellulitis, thrombosis or venous ulcer.

― Maintain a healthy lifestyle that includes a well-balanced diet, regular exercise, avoid prolong standing and high heels and good nutritional supplements.

― Accurate diagnosis and proper treatment of varicose veins can ensure that most of them do not return. As the symptoms are unacceptable or unbearable for may people, even if the results of the treatment are not all time permanent, it is still preferable to no treatment at all.

A. Graduated elastic compression stockings are good for temporary relief of symptoms and are used below knee with pressure between 23-32 mmHg. B. What are the latest intervention techniques for treatment of varicose veins? 1. Foam Sclerotherapy is an injection of a sclerosing solution into veins and mainly used to treat localized varicosities and patients get very good result. 2. Laser or Radiofrequency treatment involves puncture of the vein under ultrasound guidance and burning the vein with the use of RF / laser probe.

― Procedure normally takes around 20 minutes for one leg and around 1 hour for both legs.

― It is performed under local anesthesia.

― The patient can return home the same day of procedure & patients can return to normal activities within 24 hours.

― You will have little pain during the procedure equivalent to bee sting. There will be 3-4 small needle pricks to introduce anesthesia and most of the patients can tolerate it very well. You will have some bruise on thigh which will disappear after 6-8 days. If you had foam sclerotherapy, you will have mild itching for 2-3 days which all disappear within 2-3 wks.

― 2-4 wks.

― Couple of pain killers for 3-5 days.

With the newer minimally invasive treatments available, our patient's do not have to suffer from varicose veins symptoms any more. They will be given the treatmnt by expert hands with the most advanced available techniques.