Normally, the main cause of the appearance of varicose veins is chronic venous insufficiency, which most of the time has a genetic basis that has been aggravated by other circumstantial factors, such as heat, the use of tight clothing, standing for too long, hormonal factors, constipation… In the case of hormonal factors, menopause, pregnancy, the use of oral contraceptives, hormonal treatments or even in vitro fertilization should be highlighted.
It is common that professionals such as waiters, cooks, hairdressers, teachers or security forces are more at risk of developing varicose veins.
What types of varicose veins are there?
There are two distinct types of varicose veins. Firstly, there are spider veins, which are the result of elevated venous pressure in the microcirculation of the skin and subcutaneous tissue. Normally, spider veins are associated with a rather aesthetic problem, as they are usually associated with changes in the skin, with edema, changes in skin pigmentation or even loss of integrity with the formation of ulcers in the most advanced cases.
Secondly, there are truncal varicose veins, which are thicker and arise after changes occur within the venous wall due to the incompetence of the valves inside. With venous insufficiency, the veins dilate, the incompetence of the valves increases and there is greater reflux.
Once this vicious circle has been established, interventional treatment is the best option to break it, since this situation usually results in inflammatory and degenerative changes in the venous wall, giving rise to potentially dangerous phenomena such as venous thrombosis or thrombophlebitis.
Is there a patient profile for varicose veins?
In reality, there is no single type of patient. Varicose veins are one of the most commonly diagnosed cardiovascular pathologies today, and despite what is usually thought to affect more women, there are many men who come to the doctor for a problem of varicose veins, usually of large size.
Older people usually come with large varicose veins and very evolved, not having given the necessary importance to the problem for years. Thus, it is almost common for the skin to present ocher tones and even ulcers, which, when infected, require advanced treatments to achieve proper healing.
What minimally invasive techniques does Dr. Valderrama use in consultation?
To treat truncal varicose veins that affect the saphenous vein, the Venaseal system has been a great revolution, and we were fortunate to be one of the first in Spain to use this technique.
Instead of eliminating or burning the vein, this system seals it with a kind of glue, thus avoiding the use of thermal energy in the endovascular treatment of varicose veins. Thanks to this, many complications produced by radiofrequency or laser are avoided. In addition, anesthesia is not necessary for the procedure, nor is subsequent rest, nor are compression stockings.
It is a totally endovascular technique, which leaves no scars and is completely echo-guided, observing the result immediately through an ultrasound while it is being performed.
In summary, it can be said that the result is a definitive treatment that does not cause discomfort. However, there are cases in which this technique cannot be used, and other types of techniques such as laser or radiofrequency must be used, without ruling out traditional surgery in severe cases.
How long have you been using this technique?
We have been using this technique for more than five years, and today we have the greatest experience in Andalusian private healthcare and one of the largest series of patients at the national level.
Personally, I like to do a personal follow-up of all the patients I treat, and for some time now we have been publishing in an annual congress the medium-term results, which are truly spectacular.
What does the Varixio microfoam system consist of this method?
It is the latest technological addition to our arsenal for treating spider veins.
Traditionally, we have been treating these varicose veins with microfoam sclerosis, along with the use of transcutaneous laser for vascular lesions in favorable cases, The foam was done manually through the Tessari method. With Varixio, the foam is produced in sterile capsules that with a magnetic centrifuge reaches 4000 revolutions per minute. The result is a more homogeneous, compact and dense foam, which also lasts longer.
Making a simile with the kitchen, it is like whipping an egg white by hand or doing it with a mixer, obtaining more consistency with the second option.
Thanks to this, the treatment is more effective and has potentially fewer side effects.
Are there other effective treatments for varicose veins?
The methods discussed above are the most effective for varicose veins.
For spider veins located on the abdomen, chest or face, transcutaneous vascular laser is a great option.
In the case of truncal varicose veins, echo-guided polidocanol foam is an excellent treatment to treat varicose veins without going to the operating room. We have been performing these treatments in our center for years, with good results.
For more information, please consult with a specialist in Cardiovascular Surgery.