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Veins
Phlebology is the study and treatment of diseases of the veins. Modern phlebology depends on an orderly and thorough evaluation in order to understand each patient's specific condition and to tailor the specific program to that condition.
A detailed evaluation is not necessary in patients with simple spider veins. Schelotherapy is the treatment choice for spider/varicose veins of the legs. It is effective for most patients with a low risk of significant complications. In some cases, laser/light treatment is most effective when combined with schelotherapy. Since spider veins serve no function, removal of them does not adversely affect circulation.
Sclerotherapy, ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy, ambulatory phlebotomy, endovenous laser and surgery are treatments designed to reduce or eliminate varicose veins. These treatments may be used alone or in combination with each other depending on the situation.
Sclerotherapy is the injection of sclerosant medication into a vein. The medication is designed to irritate the lining of the vein, hopefully causing the vein to seal off and dissolve. The blood then flows through the remaining normal veins, thus reducing any pooling of blood. Ultra-sound guided sclerotherapy is a procedure used to inject certain veins by imaging them on an ultra-sound machine. It is used as a surgical alternative. Ambulatory phlebotomy is the removal of varicose veins. It is done in the office under local anesthesia. Incisions are tiny and generally do not require stitches. Endovenous laser treatment is another alternative to surgery. In this process a sterile laser fiber is inserted into the vein and, using laser energy, the vein is sealed off. The most invasive procedure is surgery. Surgical treatment of varicose veins involves either tying off the vein, or tying off the vein and removing a section of it.
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