In the article, we will consider what phlebectomy and reviews about it are.
This is the surgical removal of varicose veins of the lower extremities. This operation aims to restore normal blood flow through the vessels. It can be carried out by various methods, and during its implementation, those saphenous veins are removed, the blood flow of which is not more than 10%. After the operation, the main load is taken by deep veins and compensate for blood circulation in the limb.
Stages
In most cases, a combined phlebectomy is performed , which consists of several stages:
- Crossectomy (distal and proximal) - consists in the intersection and ligation of the saphenous veins (small and large) at the places where they enter the deep vein structures.
- Safenectomy (stripping) is a procedure that is characterized by the removal of a varicose vein trunk.
- Ligation of perforating veins, which consists in the ligation of blood vessels connecting the bloodstream in the deep and saphenous veins.
- Miniflebectomy is a procedure that is performed to remove nodes and dilated veins through small skin incisions.
The volume of surgical intervention depends on the degree of vascular damage and is determined using ultrasound of the veins of the lower extremities. At the initial stages of the development of varicose veins, the surgical process may consist of some methods of combined phlebectomy or some of them are replaced by minimally invasive methods of vein sealing (laser coagulation or radiofrequency ablation).
Reviews of phlebectomy of the veins of the lower extremities will be presented at the end of the article.
Laser coagulation
During laser coagulation (or laser endovasal obliteration), a special laser LED is introduced into the affected vessel through a small puncture, the effect of which leads to a burn of the venous wall. As a result, the affected vessel overgrows. After using the laser, there are no scars on the skin, and the patient's recovery process is much faster.
When using radiofrequency ablation, a special electrode is introduced into the affected vessel, which begins to heat the vein by means of high-frequency currents and causes the vessel to seal. This procedure is performed through punctures in the skin (as well as laser coagulation) and is considered one of the least invasive methods of treating varicose veins. Reviews of laser phlebectomy are mostly positive.
Indications and contraindications
The operation is carried out in accordance with the following indications:
- constant swelling, frequent pain and a feeling of tiredness in the limbs;
- vein insufficiency with signs of stagnation of blood;
- visually visible and protruding saphenous veins on the legs;
- varicose veins above the knee;
- trophic ulcers or the likelihood of their occurrence;
- thrombophlebitis in remission.
Phlebectomy is contraindicated in the following cases:
- infectious processes on the skin of the lower extremities;
- severe pathologies of the chronic type (hypertension, coronary heart disease, diabetes mellitus);
- a history of thrombosis;
- atherosclerosis of severe forms;
- acute thrombosis;
- pregnancy, lactation.
Who performs the operation?
This operation is performed by a vascular surgeon. A doctor in this specialty prescribes the necessary examination and determines if there are indications for surgical treatment. In the initial stages of the pathology, the intervention is performed under stationary conditions under local anesthesia. In severe cases, hospitalization is recommended.
According to reviews, the phlebectomy operation is very popular.
Operation
In most cases, phlebectomy involves the removal of all damaged veins. General anesthesia, as a rule, is not used - the process of conducting surgical procedures is limited to the use of local anesthesia. The patient understands what is happening to him, but does not feel pain. A standard precaution is fixing the patient’s body on the operating table. This allows you to prevent involuntary movements of the patient, which may harm him.
Incisions are made on the skin through which the damaged venous trunk is removed. The final stage of the operation is suturing the incisions. In especially advanced cases, a combined phlebectomy is necessary. At the stage of crossectomy, it is necessary to stop blood flow. To do this, superficial veins are bandaged and suppressed. This occurs in the inguinal fold on the thigh, sometimes in the area under the knee.
Duplex scanning determines the affected areas, after which the trunks of these veins are removed. Most often, the longitudinal large veins suffer, the lower legs are usually not affected by the pathological process. The most common procedure is a short stripping, in which a vein is removed through an incision in the groin or lower leg.
During surgery, suppression of communicative veins may also be performed. If such veins are localized close to the skin, less traumatic manipulation is used. If the vessels lie deep, doctors use endoscopic equipment. The technique prevents the formation of unaesthetic scars and shortens the recovery period.
Microflebectomy
Surgery may be represented by microphlebectomy. This type of intervention combines a fairly high therapeutic effect and a good cosmetic effect. Under local anesthesia, skin punctures are performed, after which the varicose nodes and damaged areas of the vessels are removed using a special hook. At the same time, there are no sutures, the patient has practically no scars. Reviews of phlebectomy of veins confirm this.
Rehabilitation period
Rehabilitation after a phlebectomy is usually easy. The patient may experience minor pain, however, if severe unbearable pain occurs, the doctor prescribes analgesics, which can be administered intramuscularly or taken orally.
What else can you learn from reviews of rehabilitation after phlebectomy?
In the first day after the intervention, bed rest is necessary. It is recommended to perform simple movements with the limb - bend the leg, turn on its side, etc. In the postoperative period, the patient is discharged home from the hospital after a few days.
Reviews after phlebectomy should be reviewed in advance.
Rehabilitation after such a surgical intervention includes (to prevent the development of complications) taking certain medications that reduce blood viscosity. In addition, elastic compression is required for at least two months. Within 10 days, you should limit sports, gymnastics, visits to the bath, pool or sauna.
In the process of rehabilitation, it is recommended to use exercises of physiotherapy exercises and conduct light massage in order to prevent thrombosis.
The recovery period after radiofrequency obliteration and laser phlebectomy is shorter than after combined surgery, and is characterized by the least pain.
Subject to medical advice and proper care, the rehabilitation period occurs very quickly.
Possible consequences
According to reviews of phlebectomy of the veins of the lower extremities, despite the effectiveness of the procedure, such an intervention can provoke some undesirable consequences. After extensive surgery and removal of large sections of veins, the load on the circulatory system of the limb increases sharply, which can provoke swelling and excessive fatigue of the legs. In addition, some complications may occur during the operation itself, for example, the development of an allergy to the medicines used, the occurrence of problems in the heart.
Phlebectomy Reviews
Surgery is a fairly common treatment for varicose veins. On medical sites you can see a large number of reviews about it, and this indicates that the problem of varicose veins and thrombosis in the veins today is quite widespread.
Patients who underwent phlebectomy say that the basis for the operation was subcutaneous vein thrombosis, severe varicose veins, against which they experienced severe pain in the legs and severe swelling. The operation process, according to patients, does not differ in duration. The procedure lasted in most cases about 20-30 minutes. At the same time, people did not feel pain and discomfort. During surgical intervention, either local or epidural anesthesia was used, which depended on the severity of the patient's condition and the duration of treatment.
After the operation, it was necessary to spend a day in bed, after which the doctor allowed patients to gradually begin to move and get up. Postoperative pain, according to patients, is quite strong, but they are quickly eliminated through intramuscular injections of painkillers. Most often, such analgesic drugs as Ketorol and Baralgin were used.
Subsequently, as patients note in reviews of phlebectomy, the rehabilitation process begins, which proceeds differently for everyone. Some people tolerate it easily, while others suffer from pain in their legs for a long time. On average, recovery lasts 3-4 weeks. All this time it is necessary to use elastic bandages or special compression stockings. It is recommended, according to patients, to wear them for two months, but this regimen is gradually becoming less stringent.
About three months after surgical treatment, the patient is already fully recovering and can live a familiar life. If the cause of the operation was thrombosis, he is prescribed medications that thin the blood in a lifelong regimen. Other medications are not required.
The article reviewed reviews of phlebectomy, methods of its implementation and expected results. We hope this information has been helpful.