When varicose veins are not treated in their early stages of development, they can become very large and may pose a health risk. The twisted, bulging, purplish veins most often appear on the legs and ankles. Your health may suffer if you have large ulcers that do not heal, blood clots called thrombophlebitis that form in deep veins and bleeding from varicose veins that are just under the skin. Large vein sclerotherapy can lead to better health because the varicose veins are removed completely and the above health risks are removed with the veins.
What Is Large Vein Sclerotherapy?
Sclerotherapy is a time-tested method for removing varicose and spider veins. It involves the injection of a chemical directly into the affected vein. This chemical is usually saline solution but other chemicals can be used. The solution irritates the vein wall and coagulates the blood which makes the vein seal closed. Even if the vein is large, the many other veins in your legs can easily handle the extra blood flow that no longer goes through the varicose vein.
For large varicose veins, the liquid injection may not reach the whole vein, so the chemical is whipped into foam. The foam spreads throughout the vein making sure the whole varicose vein collapses. This treatment is used for large underlying, abnormal veins that we would not normally treat with regular sclerotherapy. Our vein specialist uses ultrasound to direct the foam into the vein. This gives better control over the injection.
What to Expect with Large Vein Sclerotherapy?
According to the number of veins that need to be treated, the number of sessions you need may be two or three. In severe cases, more than three sessions may be needed.
With the help of ultrasound scanning, the places on the vein that need to be closed with be marked by our specialist and an open needle inserted. You may be given a local anesthetic. The varicose vein will be flushed with salt solution after which your leg will be elevated and the foam will be injected in small doses one at a time into each of the open needles that were previously placed in the vein. You may be asked to move your ankle to increase blood flow. The foam will be monitored by ultrasound scanning until the whole vein is treated. The needles will be removed and pressure will be put on the treated vein to make sure it is closed. You will be asked to wear compression stockings to keep the vein closed for several days.
Visit Pacific Vein Care in McHenry, IL to learn more about large vein sclerotherapy. Contact us today to schedule your consultation!