How To Treat Venous Disease

What Are Common Ways To Treat Venous Disease

When it comes to treatment of venous disease, several methods are available (surgical and non-surgical) and include:

• Compression therapy
• Medications
• Nonsurgical treatment
• Surgical treatment

Compression Therapy

Generally, compression therapy is the primary and desired method for treating venous disease. Using compression therapy helps reduce the swelling and discomfort that is present in your legs. The compression will help your veins “push” the blood back through the venous system to the heart and prevent it from pooling. Compression may be achieve through the use of short stretch compression bandages, compression stockings or compression wraps. Generally these compression therapy products may be purchased without a prescription. If a higher level or more complex method of compression is needed to treat your particular case of venous disease, you should consult with your medical professional to ensure that you will have an effective and safe treatment plan to follow.

Medications

Some of the medications which may be prescribed to treat venous disease include antibiotics and anticoagulants (blood thinners). The antibiotics can be used to clear skin infections or ulcers caused by venous disease, while the anticoagulants can treat existing blood clots and prevent future blood clots from forming. While the use of medications can address the side affects of having venous disease, they won’t treat the primary or underlying causes of the disease.

Using a multilayer compression bandage or a medicated wrap known as an Unna boot combine compression along with medication. A multilayer compression bandage combines compression bandages with antimicrobial wound dressings, while the Unna boot is a compression bandage that is impregnated with a zinc oxide paste that forms a semi-rigid medicated bandage which is useful for treating chronic wounds.

Nonsurgical treatment

Nonsurgical treatments for venous disease include:

• Sclerotherapy, is a minimally invasive procedure where a foam or liquid solution is injected into your spider vein or varicose vein, which causes the vein to collapse or disappear.
• Endovenous thermal ablation targets varicose veins through the use of a laser or high-frequency radio waves to create intense heat. This heat closes up the diseased vein but leaves it in place, preventing bleeding or bruising.

Surgical treatment

Surgical treatments for venous disease include:

• Ligation and stripping, which are two procedures are often performed together. With vein ligation, the problem veins are cut and tied off, while stripping is the surgical removal of larger veins through two small incisions.
• Microincision/ambulatory phlebectomy is another minimally invasive procedure that uses a phlebectomy hook to remove varicose veins near the skin’s surface.
• Subfascial endoscopic perforator surgery (SEPS) is a minimally invasive procedure that targets your perforating veins above your ankle.
• Vein bypass is similar to heart bypass surgery, where part of a healthy vein taken from somewhere else in your body is used to reroute blood around your damaged vein.