Treatments
Modern treatments for venous disease are largely delivered in the outpatient setting, providing a minimally invasive solution to leg vein problems. Without the need for sedation or general anaesthesia, most patients can be managed in a truly “walk in, walk out” fashion. With the correct training, an experienced clinician can provide the most appropriate management plan for your circumstances.
DVS is a treatment which involves injection of small amounts of “sclerosant” into visible surface veins. This treatment is also known as microsclerotherapy, and is used to treat the small spider veins which appear on the legs and are often cosmetically disturbing. As well as the purple spider veins there are often feeding “reticular veins”, which are blue/green in appearance, slightly larger and slightly deeper within the skin.
Also known as Endovenous Laser Ablation (EVA), this is a very effective method for treatment of incompetent Superficial Trunk Veins, which are commonly the main problem underlying visible varicose veins. Dr McMaster uses EVLT to treat these veins in his rooms under local anaesthetic and ultrasound guidance.
Ultrasound Guided Sclerotherapy (UGS) also known as Echosclerotherapy, is the treatment of veins with injection of sclerosant with the assistance of ultrasound imaging. This will occur in people who have visible varicose veins, and occasionally in those with “incompetent” but not visible superficial veins, where there are other symptoms such as pain, or signs such as patches of surface veins.
Compression stockings are an essential component of treatment of varicose and spider veins of the legs. Almost all patients are required to wear stockings for 1-2 weeks following treatment with Sclerotherapy, Ultrasound Guided Sclerotherapy, Laser or Glue. Modern stockings, while tight, are usually of high quality, and often bring unexpected relief from leg aching and swelling.
Cyanoacrylate adhesive, also known as super glue, or vein glue, this has been used for many years to treat venous malformations elsewhere in the body. In the past few years this has been used as another minimally invasive method to treat stubborn segments of varicose veins in the legs which are not amenable to laser and not effectively treated with Ultrasound guided sclerotherapy.
Generally, treatments are tailored to the type of vein problem you have, including the size and distribution of your veins, but also the findings on ultrasound examination. Only after your initial consultation and scan is it possible to give an accurate assessment of required treatment.
Almost all treatable venous problems in the legs can now be treated without surgery.
This is a common question, and the answer varies for each individual. Generally there is little harm in delaying treatment of veins for a period of time. However, the condition tends to be progressive and eventually the veins may cause some problems requiring treatment.