Glue Therapy for Varicose Vein
Varicose veins and spider veins are dilated and tortuous veins seen on the lower limbs. About 40% of males and 50%
of females are affected by this disease. Veins carry the impure (deoxygenated) blood to the heart for oxygenation.
Veins have to work against gravity to do so. the muscle Contractions in the lower legs along with functioning
(competent) valves helps proper return or impure blood upwards to the heart. If these valves are weak or damaged,
impure blood gets stagnated in the lower limb, causing the veins to stretch or twist because of high pressure. This
Condition causes varicose vein and spider veins.
Symptoms
- Heaviness and dull aching pain of legs
- Pain more towards evening and also night cramps
- Swelling/ edema over legs
- Dilated and tortuous visible veins
- Skin over the legs becomes dark and thick
- Itching over legs
- Bleeding from the veins
- Non healing ulcers over legs
- Deep vein thrombosis
Causes (Etiology)
- Obesity
- Pregnancy
- High heel
- Heredity
- Age more than 50
- Prolonged standing
Treatment options
Open surgery (Stripping of vein):Under spinal anaesthesia the diseased vein is stripped off using a special stripper.
Complications pain, wound infection, hematoma, Scar, saphenous nerve injury.
Foam sclerotherapy : Diseased vein is blocked using sclerosing agent (STD/ Polidocanol) injected into the vein under
ultrasound guidance. Complications phlebitis, pigmentation, high recurrence rate.
Endovenous thermal ablation (Laser / Radio-frequency):Under spinal/local anaesthesia diseased vein is ablated (blocked)
using heat energy generated from laser or radio-frequency probe passed through a catheter. Advantages no need of
hospital stay, can be done under local anesthesia, no wound scar, faster recovery. Complications skin burn, hematoma,
risk of saphenous nerve injury.
Endovernous non thermal ablation Cyanoacrylate glue closure (Venaseal): Foam sclerotherapy Diseased vein is blocked
using sclerosing agent (STD / Polidocanol) injected into the vein under ultrasound guidance. Complications :phlebitis,
pigmentation, high recurrence rate.
Endovenous thermal ablation (Laser/ Radio-frequency):Under spinal/local anaesthesia diseased vein is ablated (blocked)
using heat energy generated from laser or radio-frequency probe passed through a catheter. Advantages: no need of
hospital stay, can be done under local anaesthesia, no wound scar, faster recovery. Complications skin burn, hematoma,
risk of saphenous nerve injury
Endovenous non thermal ablation - Cyanoacrylate glue closure (Venaseal):
Use of cyanoacrylate (CAC) glue is not new to medical speciality. It is used widely for closure of wounds, fixation of
mesh, etc. Now this glue is Used in a modified form for treatment of varicose veins in a very successful manner.
Cyanoacrylate glue IS injected into the diseased vein using special gun and catheter system (Venaseal) under Ultrasound
guidance.
