Not in vain

Eliminate varicose veins in just an hour,says DR RAVUL JINDAL

Varicose veins is a frequently occurring condition with up to 20 per cent of the women and men getting affected with symptoms of fatigue,pain and swelling of lower limbs. If you have unattractive,enlarged blue or purple veins on the thigh or calf,you may be suffering from varicose veins. Presence of varicose veins is usually an indication of a malfunction of the venous system and should be evaluated by the vascular surgery specialist. It usually affects those who work standing for long hours such as traffic policemen and homemakers. If not treated early this can result in chronic venous insufficiency. Even though the disease is not life-threatening it can be debilitating if not treated at a proper stage. Patient at later stage can present with painful ulcers that take a long time to manage. Common misconceptions like varicose veins cannot be treated or they reoccur in every patient needs to be corrected. Besides conservative treatment with compression therapy,it is also treated with conventional surgery that requires hospital stay and 2-3 week recovery period.

A new treatment,Endovenous Laser Treatment of Varicose Veins ((ELVES) is a non-invasive technique offered to patients suffering. The treatment involves puncture of the vein under ultrasound guidance and burning the vein with the use of diode laser. The technique is combined with foam sclerotherapy to ablate the small veins,is safe and painless and patients can return home the same day as compared to conventional surgery where patients have to be in the hospital for some time. It can be performed under local or regional anaesthesia and is virtually scarless. As it causes minimal damage to the tissues it is especially useful in patients who are on anti-coagulants,obese,with groin infection,old or who are scared of surgery. Patients can return to normal activities within 24 hours. Overall,the treatment with this new technique is cheaper than conventional methods.

The writer is Consultant,Vascular Surgery,Fortis Hospital Mohali