Varicose Veins Treatment Toronto

What are Varicose Veins?

• Superficial veins that are dilated and tortuous.
• They no longer function properly; the valves of the vein are leaky, the walls of the veins are weak.
• This results in backward flow of blood and further dilation and deterioration of the veins and the venous circulation in general, discomfort, complications and an unattractive appearance of the legs.
• Blood in these faulty veins has found other channels to circulate though and will continue to do so

There Are 3 Types of Varicose Veins

1. Large Varices -Truncular
   • The long saphenous vein and the short saphenous vein are the Trunk Veins. When they are varicosed they are removed surgically by a procedure called stripping.
   • Their branches - the Truncular Veins when varicosed are treated with Sclerotheraphy .
2. Medium Varices - Reticular
   • These varices are the greenish-blue network of veins that are visible beneath the skin.
   • When they are fed by the truncular varices, the later must be injected first. Subsequently the reticular veins can be treated with sclerotherapy.
   • The reticular veins nourish the telangiectasias.
3. Small Varices - Telangiectasias
   • These varices are very tiny but the most highly visible.
   • They can be red, blue, or purple in color.
   • They respond well to sclerotherapy, but their nourishing veins, the reticular veins must be treated first.
   • Spider veins or telangiectasias on the face can be treated with injection sclerotherapy as well.

How Did I Get Varicose Veins

Heredity is the main cause.

• Women are 3 times more likely to develop varicose veins than men do due to female hormonal factors.
• Acquired varicose veins not related to heredity are the result of injury or inflammation (thrombophlebitis). Often the cause passes unnoticed.
• Precipitating factors - are not the direct cause of varicose veins but they speed up their appearance and spread: a) pregnancy; b) obesity; c) excessive heat and sun exposure; d) prolonged standing; e) orthopedic problems of the feet, hammer toes, flat feet, ill-fitting shoes; f) garters, girdles and corsets; g) aging; h) birth control pills.

Varicose Veins: What Are The Symptoms?

• Not all varicose veins are painful
• Pain may be in the form of heaviness, tiredness, burning or dragging sensation.
• Discomfort often worse at the end of a day and in hot weather.
• Night cramps in the legs may also occur.
• Pain may be worse just prior to and during menstruation and the beginning of pregnancy. Hormonal factors account for this
• Discomfort of varicose veins is relieved by rest and exercise.
• There is not a direct correlation between the size of the vein and the degree of pain. In fact smaller veins are often more painful than larger ones. The theory is that varicose veins are more painful at their outset as the walls of the veins are dilating. Once the vein has reached full dilation, the pain tends to diminish although a heavy feeling may ensue.

Varicose Veins: What Can Be Done About Them?

1. Surgery
   • is the treatment of choice for the saphenous veins
   • The procedure is called stripping and is done by a vascular surgeon.
   • Stripping involves pulling out the long saphenous vein after an incision is made in the groin and either the inside of the knee or ankle. Stripping of the short saphenous vein involves an incision behind the knee and an incision of the back inside of the ankle.
   • The surgery is usually performed under general anesthetic.
   • The hospital stay varies from day surgery to three days.
   • The patient can get up the very same day of surgery and is encouraged to take 1 mile a day walks, 48 hours after surgery.
   • Work and other physical activities can resume 7 - 10 days after surgery.
   • STRIPPING OF VARICOSE VEINS IS COMPLEMENTED BY SCLEROTHERAPHY. ONLY THE TWO MAIN VEINS OF THE LEGS ARE OPERATED ON BY THE SURGEON. ALL OTHER VARICOSE VEINS, WHATEVER THEIR SIZE, ARE TREATED BY SCLEROTHERAPY.
2. Sclerotherapy
   • Is a technique which involves injecting a sclerosing solution into the affected vein. The solution irritates the lining of the wall of the vein. This low grade inflammatory response in the vein causes obstruction of the vein through sclerosis. A fibrous cord forms along the path of the vein injected which may be felt after injection but completely disappears without leaving a trace.
   • Spider veins are the smallest sized veins that are injected and they do not have a fibrous cord after injection.
   • Injection sclerotherapy is not a terrible painful procedure. The needles used are very small and p atients often say that injection feels like a mosquito bite. Usually 20 injections are done each session. A session lasts about 10 - 15 minutes. Patients may resume normal activities immediately after a treatment. In fact, exercising, including walking and cycling are encouraged after a session.
   • The number of sessions required is individualized. Usually it varies between 6 - 12 sessions. They are usually done at weekly intervals.
   • Sclerotherapy is usually a permanent solution for the vein that have been injected. However, sclerotherapy cannot change heredity. In other words, new varices can evolve and it is important to stay on top of them as they develop.
   • Re-evaluation as new veins develop is imperative. Otherwise, yearly follow-up is recommended to evaluate and assess the progression of your varicose disorder.